integrating new chickens

[farmer12]

Hi, wondering if i can join my chickens w/my neighbors for a week?

 

[kellysmall87]

It's best keep them separated by some chicken wire for a few days so they can see and hear each other before integrating them. It may minimise fighting, but I suspect you will get some fights especially as your chickens will be on their territory. Cockerels could fight to the death.

 

[nakstk]

You also don't know about any diseases or illnesses that your neighbors chicken might have that can spread to yours or vice versa. If you are just chickensitting for the week it would probably be best to keep the chickens in their own coops and runs. You will have fighting if you try to combine them. It took mine new chickens about a month being in a run next to my old chickens before the old ones stopped trying to attack the new ones through the fence.

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

I just integrated 4 gold stars with my 4 production reds. I locked my original 4 out in the run and put the new ones inside the coop. When I opened the door to let my reds back in the coop, they stopped and just looked very confused BUT no fighting. The new ones are the same size and coloring as my old ones. They still are all "scratching their heads".

 

[farmer12]

ok thx

 

[farmer12]

i just dont want any of them to get hurt

 

[20736]

If you have time, a couple dry runs, where they spend a couple hours together for a couple days will help.
I have had good luck letting new stock run with the old stock in the yard for a couple days so they have plenty of room.
Then, the combining seems to go fairly well. Just a little blood here and there.

 

[farmer12]

ok ill try that