Introducing new Chickens to an existing flock Best Practices?

[parish]

So I have 4 chickens outside in the coop. I had 4 inside in the brooder. I put two from inside to out, without doing any research, I just tossed the new chickens in the coop. Well, that wasn't a great idea. I came home to a massacre. Both new chickens had been pecked to death seemingly just mere hours after putting them in. The existing flock was pecking at the brains of the new arrivals in the dirt. It was horrible.
Anyway, I have 2 more that need to go out to the coop at some point. So I need to know a best practice for introducing new members. Particularly to a cannibalistic murderous flock. A no bloodshed method would be best for me as I would prefer not to clean up more chicken brains or loose any more birds. I read an entire book on chickens prior to getting them and there was just 1 paragraph on introducing new members so I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but apparently it is.

So what do you guys do when you introduce new birds?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tough-love-before-thrown-to-the-wolves.1196054/

 

[parish]

Thanks for the link, but that thread doesn't really explain any procedures for introducing new birds.

 

[lazy gardener]

1. I have my youngsters where the other birds can see them for a while. I raise my chicks in a grow out coop that is fairly close to the main coop/run.

2. So, I allow the big girls out to free range so they can check out the new kids.

3. Let the chicks out to free range alone. with a few hens from the flock. I leave the more aggressive hens in the run. Be sure they have plenty of snacks/treats available. I toss scratch grains far and wide.

4. Let the chicks out to free range with a few hens from the flock. I leave the more aggressive hens in the run. Be sure they have plenty of snacks/treats available. I toss scratch grains far and wide. Be sure the chicks still have access to their secure coop/run with the door blocked enough that the hens/roo can't follow.

5. Let the whole flock out to free range with the chicks. Continue to leave their grow out coop door open enough for the chicks.

6. Leave both coops and runs wide open so adults and chicks can freely visit back and forth.

7. Put chicks into adult coop and run.

I like to integrate my chicks into the flock between 4 - 10 weeks of age, and expect to have integration completed before the chicks loose their peep and find their cluck. IMO, integration before pullets/cockerels reach sexual maturity makes the process easier for all concerned.

Any time you run into difficulty in this process, back up a step, or go into a holding pattern at that step.

Many folks have a coop and run that are simply too small to allow successful integration. If there is not enough room for the new bird(s) to safely retreat far enough away from her aggressors, there is bound to be a massacre.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC..sorry you had to make a big oops!
Hard lesson to learn.

I have been using this method for chicks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Here's some other tips and links.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

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.

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

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 copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, 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'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.


This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock