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Introducing a Chicken to Another Flock

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by SkylaSilkie, Jan 3, 2013.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 3, 2013 #1
    SkylaSilkie

    SkylaSilkie Chillin' With My Peeps

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    May 20, 2012
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    My Coop
    I'm thinking of putting a younger chicken with another flock of older chickens. I've been wanting to do it for a while and now that she's laying I think it's time. Lucky, the one I'm trying to intoduce, is about 7-8 months old. The others are about 9-11 months old. 5 out of 6 of them hate her. One chicken will walk with her without pecking her. Another avoids her, but doesn't hurt her. Should I try to just put them together or the whole flock?
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2013
  3. Jan 3, 2013 #2
    TheSpeckledRoo

    TheSpeckledRoo Chillin' With My Peeps

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    First things first, have you isolated the hen you want to introduce? You wan to isolate the hen for thirty days. If she is the same size i wouldn't worry about introducing her. What most people do is allow all the girls to free range, then you throw in the other hen so they are on neutral ground. After a couple days of this, i usually add the hen at night time very silently without disturbing the other hens. There will be some pecking going on but that is normal.
     
  5. Jan 4, 2013 #3
    ChelleBelle

    ChelleBelle Out Of The Brooder

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    Aug 17, 2012
    Glendale, Arizona
    I have 5 hens that were hatched in the first week of August. How would I go about adding a new chick. I'm thinking of adding a Polish to the mix. I really like the crest on their head.
     
  7. Feb 8, 2013 #4
    roostersandhens

    roostersandhens Flap Your Wings!

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    Jan 9, 2013
    Saving Battery Hens at Happy Hen Chicken Rescue in
    My Coop
    she will probably get picked on so be careful
     
  9. Feb 9, 2013 #5
    SpeckledHills

    SpeckledHills Chillin' With My Peeps

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    There are a few ideas that might be helpful on the "Keeping Peace in Your Coop" page on my site linked in my sig below.
     

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