How to integrate new chickens with existing flock?

[Losthorizons]

A week ago I bought 4 Easter Egger chickens at an auction - 3 females & 1 male. I'm not sure how old the new chicks are but the male just started to crow a bit in the last couple of days. I already have an existing flock of 19 chickens (3 that are a little over a year old, and the rest are almost 5 months old).

Right now I have them quarantined in our sun-room away from the rest of the flock. How long should I keep them separated from the flock? What should I look for as far as diseases go? Any other things I need to do regarding the new chickens before I introduce them to the others?

I'm somewhat new to raising chickens and this is the first time I've adopted chickens like this. I have in the past bought baby chicks and was successful mixing them in with my older hens.

Thanks for any advice you have.

 

[Pork Pie]

In theory, at least 3 weeks is a decent period for quarantine (the longer the better) but as long as there are no signs of illness after that, keep your fingers crossed. Here's some links on integration that may help


http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1126547/topic-of-the-week-integrating-chicks-into-an-adult-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1069595/introducing-chicks-to-adults#post_16276224

 

[aart]

Integration Basics:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Losthorizons]

Thank you so much for your input, this is really helpful information. I'm at the two week mark, so I'm going to wait a little longer before I put them out in the run with the other birds. I have 3 separate run areas next to each other, so they will be able to see each other but not be together, so that should work well.