Integrating adult chickens into my flock

[ahaha]

There was recently a fire at our house and we only have 4 remaining birds.
One duck and three chickens.

We wanted to add to the flock but not with baby chick's.
We purchased 3 chickens and one pigeon. (The pigeon has been raised by chickens however)

They arrive tommarrow. How do j make this as easy and stress free as possible for the birds.
Is it safe to put them all together to sleep for the first night? I don't want any acts of agression

 

[DobieLover]

There was recently a fire at our house and we only have 4 remaining birds.
One duck and three chickens.

We wanted to add to the flock but not with baby chick's.
We purchased 3 chickens and one pigeon. (The pigeon has been raised by chickens however)

They arrive tommarrow. How do j make this as easy and stress free as possible for the birds.
Is it safe to put them all together to sleep for the first night? I don't want any acts of agression

If you want to avoid aggression (and potential disease transmission to your current flock) you should quarantine the new birds as far away from your flock as you can for 30 days. Then do a 'look, don't touch' arrangement for about a week. Then allow them to commingle in the largest area possible with lots of places to hide and perch and multiple places to eat and drink.

 

[aart]

There was recently a fire at our house and we only have 4 remaining birds.
One duck and three chickens.

OhNo!! Did the coop catch fire...or your house?

Is it safe to put them all together to sleep for the first night? I don't want any acts of agression

Not really....it can work, but often does not.

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Here's some tips about .....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[ahaha]

OhNo!! Did the coop catch fire...or your house?

Not really....it can work, but often does not.

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Here's some tips about .....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Thank you! I'll be sure to use this.
Also, the fire started when an extension cord sparked, it only harmed the yard and coop, not the house.
Thanks