Introducing new chickens to the flock

[Betsie]

Hi sadly we lost 2 of my chickens recently and we still have 2 but thought it would be nice to get 2 more. The chickens I do have come from a egg farm so not sure how old. But this time I would like to get some chickens that are younger maybe just before they start to lay. Is there any tricks to the introduction. I have Hi Line chickens at present.

Love some advice.

Hope you are having a lovely day.

 

[chooks4life]

Quarantine is a good way to start. Even if they look healthy they can be carrying something that could devastate your hens. But in general, introducing any animals is better when they can see each other from a distance, and get used to one another's presences, noises, movements, appearances etc without being able to interact in violent ways. So, in a cage.

I would give the newbies a run that doesn't allow the other hens to reach them, and for a week I would allow them to see each other before I let the newbies range. If the resident hens are not interested, put something they want in the cage so they approach it, or feed them next to it; getting animals used to feeding near each other often helps introduce even differing species like dogs and cats since they then associate the other animal with a positive experience. But preventing unmanaged or unmanageable interactions is the best way to start.

Best wishes.

 

[chad-o]

I have found that keeping the new birds separate but where they can see each other is best. After about a week they are usually welcomed into the flock with little fuss. Just the usual pecking order adjustment.

 

[Judy]

Good advice above. Here's a thread discussing this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803815/integrating-two-groups/0_20