Hi, We are looking to add three new pullets to our small flock of 2. We had a total of five, but ended up with three roosters who have since gone back to their maker. Our existing girls are 14 weeks, and we are looking to find out the best way to add three, 12 week old girls to the coop. I have read about adding young chicks to an older flock, I was just curious if the same process pertained to adding same aged pullets to the coop. Thanks!
I think it would be the same...a 'through the fence' introduction for a few days and then they should be good to go. You might want to quarantine the newbies so you don't introduce disease. Here's a link if you haven't read it already: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock Good luck and !
the age difference isn't much but like Redsoxs said it's best to quarantine. While isolating them give them a good hard look for mites, lice, or worms etc.
Thanks for the tips and he warm welcome! We ended up going with just two and we picked them up this morning. Right now our "old" girls are free ranging and we put the new ladies in a wired off area next to the coop. So far, only one of the older hens has paid attention to the new ones. I think we'll keep them separate in the coop for a few nights and see how they do. I went from hating chickens to sitting with them in my lawn chair chatting with them...they are addictive.
