How to Introduce Two sets of Chicks to Existing Flock

[John_Fredman]

Hi all - bit of waffle here to set the scene...we have 2 fully grown Barnevelders and one doesn't seem to lay so we wanted more chickens. Cue neighbour who gave us 16 chicks that were around 1 to 3 weeks old (they are a mix of breeds, some are ISA Browns and we think the others are Australorps but not certain). We raised all 16 chicks in a large crate (2.5m x 1.5m) for around 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, we separated 5 of them as they appeared to be much smaller than the others. We put them outside in a separate coop inside the main chicken coop so the existing 2 Barnevelders could see them. Those 5 get on well with each other and we let them into the main coop when the existing 2 are free ranging. We tried to introduce them but there was a lot of pecking and whingeing from the existing 2 so we thought it best to leave it until the 5 new ones are bigger around the week 13/14 stage.

Keeping up? So, that left 11 chicks back in the crate which is in our garage. We culled 4 that revealed themselves to be cockrels through lots of crowing and 7 remain. Now, we don't know what to do next. Do we wait a few more weeks so that all the cockrels reveal themselves before we think about moving them out the crate and into the main coop? We don't have room for more than 9 chickens in the main coop so, assuming the 5 we initially move prove to be pullets (we're not 100% certain they are) then we may have to give away some of the other pullets/cockrels (if there are more than 2). Should we just introduce all 3 groups in one go and let them sort out the pecking order at the same time? We were hoping all the cockrels would have revealed themselves but they all seem quite quiet but definitely spar with each other. Some look like cockrels with large wattles and combs and feathers but nothing that I would be happy to cull them for.

Hopefully I've explained the situation well. Any help or advice would be welcome!

 

[M-H-Fielding]

Hi all - bit of waffle here to set the scene...we have 2 fully grown Barnevelders and one doesn't seem to lay so we wanted more chickens. Cue neighbour who gave us 16 chicks that were around 1 to 3 weeks old (they are a mix of breeds, some are ISA Browns and we think the others are Australorps but not certain). We raised all 16 chicks in a large crate (2.5m x 1.5m) for around 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, we separated 5 of them as they appeared to be much smaller than the others. We put them outside in a separate coop inside the main chicken coop so the existing 2 Barnevelders could see them. Those 5 get on well with each other and we let them into the main coop when the existing 2 are free ranging. We tried to introduce them but there was a lot of pecking and whingeing from the existing 2 so we thought it best to leave it until the 5 new ones are bigger around the week 13/14 stage.

Keeping up? So, that left 11 chicks back in the crate which is in our garage. We culled 4 that revealed themselves to be cockrels through lots of crowing and 7 remain. Now, we don't know what to do next. Do we wait a few more weeks so that all the cockrels reveal themselves before we think about moving them out the crate and into the main coop? We don't have room for more than 9 chickens in the main coop so, assuming the 5 we initially move prove to be pullets (we're not 100% certain they are) then we may have to give away some of the other pullets/cockrels (if there are more than 2). Should we just introduce all 3 groups in one go and let them sort out the pecking order at the same time? We were hoping all the cockrels would have revealed themselves but they all seem quite quiet but definitely spar with each other. Some look like cockrels with large wattles and combs and feathers but nothing that I would be happy to cull them for.

Hopefully I've explained the situation well. Any help or advice would be welcome!

Maybe try introducing the younger birds one or two at a time, and see which ones the older hens like the most, then get rid of the rest?
Then the older hens will get to pick the flock.
Whenever I introduce new birds, there is always fighting and pecking for a day or too, no matter how I do it. I normally just let them peck a bit, then everything will settle down once they have established the pecking order.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Hi all - bit of waffle here to set the scene...we have 2 fully grown Barnevelders and one doesn't seem to lay so we wanted more chickens. Cue neighbour who gave us 16 chicks that were around 1 to 3 weeks old (they are a mix of breeds, some are ISA Browns and we think the others are Australorps but not certain). We raised all 16 chicks in a large crate (2.5m x 1.5m) for around 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, we separated 5 of them as they appeared to be much smaller than the others. We put them outside in a separate coop inside the main chicken coop so the existing 2 Barnevelders could see them. Those 5 get on well with each other and we let them into the main coop when the existing 2 are free ranging. We tried to introduce them but there was a lot of pecking and whingeing from the existing 2 so we thought it best to leave it until the 5 new ones are bigger around the week 13/14 stage.

Keeping up? So, that left 11 chicks back in the crate which is in our garage. We culled 4 that revealed themselves to be cockrels through lots of crowing and 7 remain. Now, we don't know what to do next. Do we wait a few more weeks so that all the cockrels reveal themselves before we think about moving them out the crate and into the main coop? We don't have room for more than 9 chickens in the main coop so, assuming the 5 we initially move prove to be pullets (we're not 100% certain they are) then we may have to give away some of the other pullets/cockrels (if there are more than 2). Should we just introduce all 3 groups in one go and let them sort out the pecking order at the same time? We were hoping all the cockrels would have revealed themselves but they all seem quite quiet but definitely spar with each other. Some look like cockrels with large wattles and combs and feathers but nothing that I would be happy to cull them for.

Hopefully I've explained the situation well. Any help or advice would be welcome!

I hatched out my own 1st chicks this past spring, 7 eggs hatched April 25th, 3 more eggs hatched May 23rd. Was hoping for all hens but we all know how that goes! (BTW, more rounded at both end eggs do NOT mean higher odds of being hens. Lol)
Anyway, I had 2 mamas, each hatched their batch well, next door to eachother the whole time. Mamas seem to be great til they get fed up & aren't quite as nurturing anymore, chicks abt 14 weeks or so. So when I put Mamas back with their own Roo & group, mine were accepted back no problem. I tried combining all chicks, but 1 month age difference was so obvious, those younger 3 were wimpy & picked on. So...still kept mama with younger 3 a few weeks til I noticed her grumpiness. Still all right next door to eachother. So,, then I put that mama back with her Roo & hens. With the chicks, I tried this, every other day I'd let 1 older, sweeter natured chick (hens) join the 3 younger ones on their side. (BTW, the younger 3 were 2 roos & 1 hen) After I moved 4 older chicks in with the younger, & saw everyone being congenial, I started opening the door between the sections, as I hung out with meal worm treats. As they ate from my hand, they only had the normal occasional "that's my worm" peck, no nasty sparring or squabbling. So it only took a week to introduce 1 at a time to the younger side. The younger 3 always stuck close together but after that week, I was able to leave both sections open to eachother. This lasted awhile til just recently when the Roos started acting up, as Roos will do. So then I did have to divide the Wyandottes (2 Roos 2 hens) from the other 6 in the group at 5 mos of age. The remaining group, 4 mos old & 5 mos old, a RIR Roo & hen, a Buff Orp Roo & Ameracaunas Roo & hens were all ok together for abt another month. So...now I need to remove a few Roos, but all hens are fine together, & I even added 2 older hens, a Comet & a Buff, that were getting bullied in their older groups but have been kind to the youngsters. I'm not sure this would work with everyone, they've got their own personalities likes & dislikes just as we do...but it's worth a shot, as long as you try it when you have free time to hang out & observe. My Buff Roo started out as the dominant chick, but soon the Wyandotte Brothers were wanting to kick his feathered butt, & then the brothers started hating eachother so now they're separated. Fun isn't it?! They're so beautiful & of course I get attached, but I can't afford to build another coop! Lol Hope all goes well with your flock.