Introducing new birds

[xx Georgina xx]

Hello,
I have had 4 hens and gone to get another 4.
I have not introduced my birds in a long time.

I have got 4 hens who is really good at flying, but I am worried if they fly away when they are in the garden, however... They are terribly scared of my other hens (they run away from them)

The old flock I have... (In the highest to lowest pecking order
1) Pekin Cockerel (Bleu)
2) Light Sussex Hen (Spikey)
3) Pekin Hen (Blonde)
4) Pekin Hen (Lucy)

When we put the hens in the home of the old flock the hens beak has been bleeding (near the nose) but it's now been healed. The old flock gangs up on the chicks but... If the chicks are in the bedding Blonde will get them or... Bleu will chase them and peck at them until they are in a den.

We would like more ideas on getting the Peking order done.

Questions I have:
Would it be better if they do pecking order out of the home or in the home?
If the chicks beak's bleed should I leave them?
How long should I let the chicks with the older ones?
Shall I let the chicks sleep in a cage in the same place as the older ones, or let them out of the cage? (At night)

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Hi there!

First, I have a few questions.
-How old are the new ones?
-Does everyone sleep together?
-How does size of old versus new compare?

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Normally, with introducing new chickens, I like to put the new ones in at night. This means that the older chickens don't see the difference at first and everyone wakes up in the morning together as a flock sort of deal. Furthermore, it's very important that chickens be of similar size so that they can "compete" fairly against others in the pecking order.

 

[xx Georgina xx]

1) we think they are about 4 or 5 months
2) there is a cage inside open, the chicks sleep in cage (they choose to but can come out whenever) and the older ones sleep on top
3) like I said I got 1 light sussex and 3 bantams. My new ones are cross they are about same size as my cockerel

Hi there!

First, I have a few questions.
-How old are the new ones?
-Does everyone sleep together?
-How does size of old versus new compare?

 

[aart]

Normally, with introducing new chickens, I like to put the new ones in at night. This means that the older chickens don't see the difference at first and everyone wakes up in the morning together as a flock sort of deal. Furthermore, it's very important that chickens be of similar size so that they can "compete" fairly against others in the pecking order.

Yeah...weeellllll...that might work...
....but.....
like bobbie-j sez "chickens aren't the brightest animals on this planet, but they're not that stupid."




Here's some notes I've taken on integration that I found to be very helpful.......
......take what applies or might help and ignore the rest.
See if any of them, or the links provided at the bottom, might offer some tips that will assist you in your situation:

Integration of new chickens into flock.

Consider medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
Poultry Biosecurity
BYC 'medical quarantine' search

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. Integrating new birds of equal size works best.

For smaller chicks I used a large wire dog crate right in the coop for the smallers. I removed the crate door and put up a piece of wire fencing over the opening and bent up one corner just enough for the smallers to fit thru but the biggers could not. Feed and water inside the crate for the smallers. Make sure the smallers know how to get in and out of the crate opening before exposing them to the olders. this worked out great for me, by the time the crate was too small for the them to roost in there(about 3 weeks), they had pretty much integrated themselves to the olders.

If you have too many smallers to fit in a crate you can partition off part of the coop with a wire wall and make the same openings for smallers escape.


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 blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down, 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 and/or up and away from any bully birds.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best of mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

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

Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock