Introducing new chickens

[twendt]

OK, I have had chickens for 2 yrs as of this month, I started with 3 RIR as chicks. I've made a few mistakes. However, I have 6 chickens and have lost only one, she was my Mama hen, my favorite, fine one day, didn't leave the coop the next. She was 18mo old. The other two are still alive and well. At the same time, I was raising 2 SLW from chicks. I introduced the 2 SLW pullets to the 2 remaining RIR and of course the RIR were bullies. I went on Craig's list looking for a hen nobody wanted to disrupt what was going on. I responded to an ad. They had SLW that were as old as my RIRs, I decided to take 2. I thought 1 would be lonely, 2 would be better. I brought them home and put them into the same fenced in area as my 4 other hens. These Craig's list hens were in rough condition, molting,( lots of bare areas) legs mites, but no other mites or lice. whew! I had no other place to keep them, so I threw them in with my other 4 hens. I live on 1 acre in a suburb. Long story short, the rescued SLW are gorgeous!! I cured their leg mites, and they are now plump happy hens and living harmoniously with my other 4 hens. I never quarantined the 2 rescued hens, probably a mistake, yes, but it worked for me!! I love my 6 hens, they are beautiful and give me 4-6 eggs daily. Yes, they are VERY spoiled.

 

[Marisa14]

OK, I have had chickens for 2 yrs as of this month, I started with 3 RIR as chicks. I've made a few mistakes. However, I have 6 chickens and have lost only one, she was my Mama hen, my favorite, fine one day, didn't leave the coop the next. She was 18mo old. The other two are still alive and well. At the same time, I was raising 2 SLW from chicks. I introduced the 2 SLW pullets to the 2 remaining RIR and of course the RIR were bullies. I went on Craig's list looking for a hen nobody wanted to disrupt what was going on. I responded to an ad. They had SLW that were as old as my RIRs, I decided to take 2. I thought 1 would be lonely, 2 would be better. I brought them home and put them into the same fenced in area as my 4 other hens. These Craig's list hens were in rough condition, molting,( lots of bare areas) legs mites, but no other mites or lice. whew! I had no other place to keep them, so I threw them in with my other 4 hens. I live on 1 acre in a suburb. Long story short, the rescued SLW are gorgeous!! I cured their leg mites, and they are now plump happy hens and living harmoniously with my other 4 hens. I never quarantined the 2 rescued hens, probably a mistake, yes, but it worked for me!! I love my 6 hens, they are beautiful and give me 4-6 eggs daily. Yes, they are VERY spoiled.

I love the SLW and GLW I had one of each and have lost them both within a month of each other! Very sad as I love them like any other pet I have! I hope they will get along well... time will tell, I guess

 

[aart]

Chicken social behavior can be surprisingly complex. If you had two best friends and one of them died or moved away, would you accept a random third person as a friend to replace her? Maybe, depending on the person. Maybe not.

Well, in my experience, chickens are just like that.

Well, maybe...more likely they will attack any newcomers who are trying to use their resources.


@Marisa14 tho your run is good sized, sharing the small coop may be another matter all together.
You'll need some kind of coop for night time protection of the newbies until integration can be completed...which could take days or weeks.


Here's some tips and link on....
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

 

[twendt]

Sorry, for your loss. Chickens are flock animals, if you introduce 2 that would be better, especially if they are full grown and relatively the same size as the established chickens. There will be squabbling to establish pecking order, you can stand watch and intervene if needed, the biggest asset is space for the newbies to get away from the dominant hens. Things will quiet down within a few days. It really did work for me. I have all my girls inside a large enclosed garden with raised beds, their coop and run (I needed this for rainy days and winter), and a composter I made with wood pallets, my chickens love hiding behind the composter.

 

[Marisa14]

Sorry, for your loss. Chickens are flock animals, if you introduce 2 that would be better, especially if they are full grown and relatively the same size as the established chickens. There will be squabbling to establish pecking order, you can stand watch and intervene if needed, the biggest asset is space for the newbies to get away from the dominant hens. Things will quiet down within a few days. It really did work for me. I have all my girls inside a large enclosed garden with raised beds, their coop and run (I needed this for rainy days and winter), and a composter I made with wood pallets, my chickens love hiding behind the composter. View attachment 1689576 View attachment 1689577

Wow! That looks like an amazing area for them!!

 

[twendt]

Thanks! I spent the entire month of July building it! I never built anything before, without my Dad's help My garden was already there, the fence and gate were to keep the deer out. When I decided to get chickens , everything just fell into place I should say the day my mom said "don't got to Farm and Fleet, they got in a bunch of chicks" was the day I decided to get chickens!! LOL I took my daughter there without telling her where we were going and walked out with 2 baby RIR, went back the next day and got 1 more because you know, 3 is better, now I have 6 chickens.... darn chicken math

 

[Marisa14]

Thanks! I spent the entire month of July building it! I never built anything before, without my Dad's help My garden was already there, the fence and gate were to keep the deer out. When I decided to get chickens , everything just fell into place I should say the day my mom said "don't got to Farm and Fleet, they got in a bunch of chicks" was the day I decided to get chickens!! LOL I took my daughter there without telling her where we were going and walked out with 2 baby RIR, went back the next day and got 1 more because you know, 3 is better, now I have 6 chickens.... darn chicken math

It’s very impressive! When we moved into our new house I thought there was a 3 chicken limit so I ordered 3,but then I was talking to my neighbour and she said she was getting 6! So we I got straight on the phone and ordered another one! I will have 6 by the end of the year! People think I’m so weird how much I love my chickens but they are just so cute!!

 

[twendt]

I'm weird too! I think they're comical! ( I have a 0 chicken limit).... I'm a rebel. My neighbors are totally cool with it, they like them, plus the eggs

 

[Marisa14]

I'm weird too! I think they're comical! ( I have a 0 chicken limit).... I'm a rebel. My neighbors are totally cool with it, they like them, plus the eggs

Haha! I couldn’t be without them now! My chickens and the neighbours ones are friends... we have them beside each other with a fence between them!

 

[twendt]

I've been considering bringing the subject up to my suburb's common counsel, it didn't pass in 2012, little or no interest at the time. I watched "Mad City chickens", a documentary on how Madison, WI got the chicken ordinance passed, and now I'm inspired to make a difference. I live outside of Milwaukee, EVEN Milwaukee allows Chickens!! My suburb is so stuck up. I told my husband 20 yrs ago I didn't want to move here, I never liked the community, but the schools are excellent. I cried when we (he) made an offer on this house. That's OK, I got even, I brought home CHICKENS!!! LOL