Integrating Question

[themorganhomestead]

We have 9 chickens, 2 RIR Roosters and 7 Isa Brown laying hens. Yesterday I was given 5 girls, 1 WR, 1 BO and her 3 Pullets who were born in March but are very tiny and not laying. Tomorrow I'm due to get 5 more hens, 3 IB, 1 (unknown breed) and her 10 week old chick. Right now I have the 5 new chickens isolated in a separate pin but next to the fence where my older chickens are. I'm trying to figure out the best way to bring the other 5 in tomorrow. I've thought of a pen inside the coop with a nesting box inside? thoughts? Suggestions? I'm getting the extra 10 chickens due to friends moving and unable to take them with them.

 

[fawndane]

Make sure that the new birds get a balanced feed with extra protein. (Try chick starter or game bird starter. Generally is 18-20% in protein percentage.) Add oyster shell to give extra calcium. Get them to gain a little weight and possibly start laying eggs. Keep them on that awhile and see if they lay at 9-10 months old. 8 months seems late to me to still not be laying.

I’d keep those 5 away for a bit. May cause your other 9 to quit laying. You need to introduce new flock members slowly, not too fast. The birds will get stressed. As for the other 10, put them with the 5 chickens. I’d also go ahead and vaccinate them. (Cocci, MG, Marek’s, etc.) Unfortunately, I bought laying hens and it’s costing my flocks life. They gave my flock MG. Have to cull everyone.

Best of luck to you!
~ bluee

 

[aart]

I'm getting the extra 10 chickens due to friends moving and unable to take them with them.

Welcome to BYC!
Well, talk about chicken math!!

All 10 new birds are from the same flock?
If so, you should be able to put them all together.

As far as integrating with your birds, I'll start by asking is your coop big enough for them all 20 birds? Think I read on another of your posts you were thinking about getting a shed....good idea.

Meanwhile here's some tips about integration.
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.

Another option, if possible, is to put all birds in a new coop and run, this takes the territoriality issues away.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock