Introducing new chickens and transitioning to free range

Aussiechickener

Chirping
Mar 3, 2020
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104
97
So I'm picking up some new girls to add to my existing flock of three. I'm aware of quarantining so I will be doing that first before introducing them. Currently my girls have a decent size fenced in area but I want to transition them to having full reign of the backyard. I know its good to introduce new chickens into a small area of the existing cage to get everyone used to each other first without fighting. I have also heard its good to introduce everyone in an unfamiliar area if possible to they are distracted a little and hopefully fight less. So should I start giving my girls free range while introducing them like this or should I wait until after they are accustomed to each other in their smaller space to extend their area?
Not sure if that all makes sense so I'll explain my plans. I'm quarantining my new girls in a separate part of the backyard away from my current girls. Once quarantining is over I will open up the whole backyard to my current girls and keep the new girls in their separate enclosure. Once they are accustomed to seeing each other I will open the backyard up to the new girls too.
If it helps I currently own a frizzle Sussex, a silkie and a bantam silkie. I am acquiring a Sussex, an australorp, and a wyandotte mix all from the same person. The new girls are around the same age as my current girls, although they may be a few weeks older.
Hope this makes sense and someone has some experience with this sort of thing. I haven't had to introduce new girls since I owned chickens as a child so I'm not well versed in what to do.
 
Once quarantine shows them safe I would make sure you arrange the birds where they can all see one another. I think integrating new birds is especially difficult when you're dealing with small flocks. Vigilance is essential. They will have to sort it out and establish their own pecking order but be aware if one or two birds are consistently bullied by the others. The more they can see each other the easier it is to integrate but keep your separate pen in case you end up having to isolate either a bully or the bullied! Good luck! Don't lose patience if it takes a while.
 
I'm quarantining my new girls in a separate part of the backyard away from my current girls. Once quarantining is over I will open up the whole backyard to my current girls and keep the new girls in their separate enclosure. Once they are accustomed to seeing each other I will open the backyard up to the new girls too.
Sounds like a decent plan.
Observe and Adjust as needed.
 

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