Introducing New Chicken - Different Age

[Smccau3]

I have a couple questions about introducing a new chicken to our flock. We currently have 3 hens and we just got a new hen. The 3 we currently have are 14 weeks and not laying yet. The new one is 5-6 months and laying.

-How do I introduce the new chicken to the other 3?

-What do I feed them? I am currently feeding my 3 the grower/finisher, but I do have layer feed. Do I just feed them all the layer feed?

-Do I supply oyster shell to all of the chickens?

This will be my first laying chicken, so I'm not sure how to go about this.

 

[Judy]

The 14 week olds are probably old enough for the layer feed, but you could also feed all of them grower or flock raiser as long as oyster shell is available. I sure wouldn't waste any feed. I don't think it would do any harm to have the oyster shell where the 14 week olds can reach it; I doubt they will bother it much if at all.

I've never added a strange older bird, but I read the best way is to house them side by side for a few weeks first, to let them get used to each other's presence. But then I've also read that people just mix them without other introduction and things go fine. I'd probably either give them lots of space and hiding places, and treats for distraction and introduce during the day -- or set the new one on the roost just after dark and hope they are accustomed to her presence by the morning.

Your new one will be lowest in the pecking order, and there will be some putting her in her place, but you could just add her and watch to be sure she is allowed to eat and drink. An extra feeder and waterer, off from the others, might help, too.

 

[Smccau3]

I think I am going to put her on the roost with them tonight and check on them first thing in the morning.

What do you think about mixing the grower with the layer feed, so I don't waste any feed?

 

[Smccau3]

I just put her on the perch. No problems so far. Fingers crossed, it is an uneventful night.

 

[fiveladybugs]

In the last month, we got a splash Silkie and kept her in a pen to herself. We then introduced our three month old Ancona & Brown Leghorn hens, which thankfully went fine. In the last week, we introduced a RIR hen as well. We put her on the roost & so far they are all getting alone. We decided against putting them with our White Leghorn hen trio & rooster, simply because he's a little protective of his ladies

 

[Smccau3]

So, my 3 are terrified of the new silkie. She is probably twice their size, but they won't go anywhere near her. Whenever she enters the coop, the other 3 run over each other to get out into the run. I have seen the silkie peck the other ones a couple times, but I am not concerned about that.

I don't want my chickens to be stressed, and I am nervous they won't get the food and water they need. I put a water bowl in the run, and I figured their food in the run is grass.

It is pretty amusing to watch them try to stay as far away from the silkie as possible, but I am a little concerned. Is this normal?

 

[Judy]

I wouldn't depend entirely on grass -- maybe give them a small dish of feed twice a day, and supervise while they eat. Hopefully in time things will settle down.

 

[Smccau3]

How long would you give them?

We have a friend who will take the older chicken if she doesn't work out. I was thinking about giving it a week.

 

[Judy]

Up to you -- but it can take months, or old pecking orders can just change for no apparent reason. I wouldn't expect the uproar to be over in a week.

 

[Smccau3]

She had 2 of them hiding in a nest box this morning. Is it worth it to wait?

I'm worried this stress is going to affect my chickens' laying.