Hello first time poster.
I have 7 chickens (1 barred rock rooster, 1 bantam rooster, 5 hens) all 6 months old.
I am just finishing building a 6x8 coop with 8x14 run.
When I'm finished I want to add 4 more hens around the same age.
Question is how to integrate them.
Option1. I can add the new hens to the new coop and run before the others. The flock I have now I raised from chicks so they free range a lot and could check out the new hens in the nice big coop and run while they free range.
Option2. Let my flock into the new coop and put the new birds in the old coop and let them get to know the new hens while they're in the smaller coop. 20ft away from new coop.
Option3. Add existing birds to new coop and new birds into new coop at night first night. At them in perchs.
Thanks in advance
I have 7 chickens (1 barred rock rooster, 1 bantam rooster, 5 hens) all 6 months old.
I am just finishing building a 6x8 coop with 8x14 run.
When I'm finished I want to add 4 more hens around the same age.
Question is how to integrate them.
Option1. I can add the new hens to the new coop and run before the others. The flock I have now I raised from chicks so they free range a lot and could check out the new hens in the nice big coop and run while they free range.
Option2. Let my flock into the new coop and put the new birds in the old coop and let them get to know the new hens while they're in the smaller coop. 20ft away from new coop.
Option3. Add existing birds to new coop and new birds into new coop at night first night. At them in perchs.
Thanks in advance