I have no idea what to do

[BayBay Peepers]

You can absolutely get two new hens, but you'll want to make sure to have a quarantine time. Let them see each other without having contact for a while and when you're ready to integrate them try it at night. I've had a lot of success this way. They seem to be much less ornery in the morning

What's the climate like where you're from? That will also play into how you will merge the two groups.

 

[Maxamus]

I live in WI so it's pretty cold right now

 

[BayBay Peepers]

We're like neighbors haha. Ok what is your set up like? Do you have a regular coop and run? How big is it? Do you heat it at all or leave it? Is it insulated? And any other details you can think of.

 

[Maxamus]

I will post pictures when I get home but my coops is about 3 by 6 and 3 feet tall. It is raised off the ground on stilts that are 4 feet talll. The coop is inslated with styrofoam that is covered up, and we do have a heatlamp running at all times. The girls go down a slanted ladder to get to the ground run which is large, but open.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Ok that's good. Can you section off a part of the coop for integrating? If you can't just add a temporary fence-like wall, then I'd go for the crate. Depending on how big the crate is I'd try to keep the two new ones in there. That way they know that they are entering Mabel's home and not that she's joining them alone.

 

[Maxamus]

So just put the dog cage into the coop?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

dog cage into the coop
is not quarantine.
diseases can spread quite a distance through the air.
lice and mites can be transmitted with a dog cage in the coop

Quarantine means - separated as far as possible from your primary flock for as long as possible.

 

[bobbi-j]

Your coop is not big enough to put in a dog cage with enough room to comfortably keep two hens. And, as ChickenCanoe stated, that's not true quarantine anyway. To truly quarantine, you need to keep them hundreds of yards apart, plus change shoes and clothes every time you go from one coop to the other. People will keep them separated in a "see but don't touch" situation hoping for easier integration. This may work, but once they are in the same space, there will still likely be squabbles so they can sort out their pecking order. This happens with chickens. It's hard to avoid. If you are not worried about quarantining them, I'd just add the extras at night so they wake up together. This does not mean all will be peaceful in the coop. I just think it's less stressful for them to wake up in a new place rather than be tossed into a coop. I could be wrong... it's just my opinion.

PS - if your coop is adequately ventilated, they really don't need the heat lamp. I'm in MN, so I understand cold weather. They'll be fine, really. Especially with that many chickens in that small of a coop. Their body heat will suffice.

 

[Maxamus]

So how would I do that, keep the 2 other chickens in the garage for a few days and put them next to mable when she's outside?

 

[pastryman]

If you dont have a good place to keep the new hens, I would just put them together right away. They might get sick. But so do we when we meet new people or take a bus. But try to get the hens from a good place.

And keep the coop and water extra clean before and after putting them together.