Integrating new hens 1 at a time.

[NewcoopNewpoop]

I have a 2 hen "flock" where both are 1 year old (orpington and bc maran). Just got 3 from a friend and they are 2 years old (EE, G. wyandotte, sapphire gem). Im wanting to integrate and was thinking putting 1 at a time over to my original flock starting with the most submissive hen.
They have parallel pens about 5-10 feet apart and have seen eachother for 4 days.
Also if the hens have come from a known healthy flock and show no signs of sickness is it possible to safely integrate sooner than 30 days?
Thoughts?

 

[sourland]

I would integrate all 3 at the same time. 'safety in numbers' when dealing with the home team. If they are in pens 5-10 feet apart, both flocks are already exposed to anything the other flock may have so integration can take place at any time.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I would integrate all 3 at the same time. 'safety in numbers' when dealing with the home team. If they are in pens 5-10 feet apart, both flocks are already exposed to anything the other flock may have so integration can take place at any time.

I agree. It’s difficult to integrate only one bird, it’s much smoother if you have at least 2.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

I agree. It’s difficult to integrate only one bird, it’s much smoother if you have at least 2.

Thats very helpful to know

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

So putting both of the older birds in with my younger ones resulted in our orpington getting beaten up by both new birds immediately. She got a few scratches on her face and my kid is pretty upset.

The older ladies immediately laid claim to everything including both sets of feeders and waterers which are spaced out with line of sight breaks.
My other hen is super submissive and has dodged all confrontation.

Needless to say we are quite sad to see two new hens treat the ones we have raised so cruelly. Though I know this is how it goes, its hard to "like" these new hens now.

Is there a chance they will chill and integrate? They are hanging in 2 sets of 2 right now, occaisionally waddling over to our orpington to stare her down over something.
Our hens have learned to walk away whenever they come close. I kind of miss having just the 2 now. No drama.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Unfortunately that’s how it happens sometimes. Get more feeders/waterers if you can, it might help.

I integrated 2 pullets with 2 4 year old hens in November, they still mostly hang as 2 groups of 2. Free ranging for a couple hours a day helps if you can

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Unfortunately that’s how it happens sometimes. Get more feeders/waterers if you can, it might help.

I integrated 2 pullets with 2 4 year old hens in November, they still mostly hang as 2 groups of 2. Free ranging for a couple hours a day helps if you can

We free range our girls almost daily. Are you saying free range all 4 to bond them?
We may get rid of the 2 new ones if they continue the turfwar thing after a few weeks to be honest.

 

[tlcmurphy]

We free range our girls almost daily. Are you saying free range all 4 to bond them?

Yes, it might help. You can get them to go back to the coop/run by throwing treats in there
They’ll have more room to get away from each other when they free range.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Yes, it might help. You can get them to go back to the coop/run by throwing treats in there
They’ll have more room to get away from each other when they free range.

They have 2000sq ft right now. Thats pretty decent for 4 chickens I thought.

 

[SamLockwood]

I have a 2 hen "flock" where both are 1 year old (orpington and bc maran). Just got 3 from a friend and they are 2 years old (EE, G. wyandotte, sapphire gem). Im wanting to integrate and was thinking putting 1 at a time over to my original flock starting with the most submissive hen.
They have parallel pens about 5-10 feet apart and have seen eachother for 4 days.
Also if the hens have come from a known healthy flock and show no signs of sickness is it possible to safely integrate sooner than 30 days?
Thoughts?

As the others said, it's better to integrate them as a group. Lone chickens facing a group of strangers are going to be really nervous, and a group of chickens facing a lone stranger is more likely to bully the newcomer because chickens think that sort of thing is fun.

I really don't have a set time where I integrate them. What I like to do is watch how they interact with a physical barrier between them. If there's aggressive posturing like pecking at the wire between them, I wait until the aggression tones down.

I also don't force them to roost in the new coop. Generally they'll figure out on their own when they're comfortable roosting with the main flock on their own, and they may not do it as a group. I find that process is more natural and while there are always inevitable squabbles when integrating new birds it seems less stressful overall.