Introducing new chickens

[Chickenmama1115]

First time chicken owner, and will be adding new chickens to my flock soon. I’ve never done this before, how do I introduce new chickens to my current? I currently have two barred rock pullet, a silkie roo, and a D’uccle pullet. All are five months old. I will be adding a silkie pullet that is 4 to 5 months old. And five Rhode Island red pull it that are about two months old.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Do you have pictures of your chicken coop and run? How large is it?

Most people will use the "see-no-touch-method". Chickens are territorial and can seriously injure each other, so the goal is to introduce them safely over a period of time.

When I attempted to integrate, I used a 4x4-foot doggie playpen with hardware cloth cable-tied along the bottom foot (so no one could reach in and injure the chicks). This allowed lots of face-to-face interaction between the two groups. I also encouraged them to eat close together and offered treats for positive association.

Once the birds start to lose interest and ignore each other (which can take a few days), I'll test the waters. There needs to be lots of space, lots of clutter, and multiple feed/water stations. The pecking order will come into play, and the newcomers will be smacked and chased a bit. They need to be able to escape (hence the clutter to run behind). I do monitor during this time. I don't want to see any sort of relentless pursuit or full-blown fighting. If that happens, we go back to the playpen separation and try again once things settle down.

It can be a slow going. I've seen people just throw birds together and have it work out. I've also seen gruesome injuries from rushed integration. My chickens are my pets, so I play it conservatively.

I'm sure you'll hear from others with more details, but I hope this helps give a general idea of the process.

 

[Cammo77]

First thing I'd be concerned about is bringing in any disease or parasites to your existing flock. Are you set up to quarantine the new birds for a while so you can be sure they're not bringing anything in? This is a pretty stressful time for them so their immunity will be low. Last thing you want as a new chicken owner is to lose birds to something that could have been prevented. I've been there myself.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I've never integrated older birds (just chicks), so I always gloss over this. Quarantine first!

 

[Cammo77]

I've never integrated older birds (just chicks), so I always gloss over this. Quarantine first!

It's a headache for sure, breaking up squabbles etc It is definitely doable but it has to be done correctly.

 

[Chickenmama1115]

Do you have pictures of your chicken coop and run? How large is it?

Most people will use the "see-no-touch-method". Chickens are territorial and can seriously injure each other, so the goal is to introduce them safely over a period of time.

When I attempted to integrate, I used a 4x4-foot doggie playpen with hardware cloth cable-tied along the bottom foot (so no one could reach in and injure the chicks). This allowed lots of face-to-face interaction between the two groups. I also encouraged them to eat close together and offered treats for positive association.

Once the birds start to lose interest and ignore each other (which can take a few days), I'll test the waters. There needs to be lots of space, lots of clutter, and multiple feed/water stations. The pecking order will come into play, and the newcomers will be smacked and chased a bit. They need to be able to escape (hence the clutter to run behind). I do monitor during this time. I don't want to see any sort of relentless pursuit or full-blown fighting. If that happens, we go back to the playpen separation and try again once things settle down.

It can be a slow going. I've seen people just throw birds together and have it work out. I've also seen gruesome injuries from rushed integration. My chickens are my pets, so I play it conservatively.

I'm sure you'll hear from others with more details, but I hope this helps give a general idea of the process.

See I wasn’t sure if I needed to do the whole see no touch rule since my current birds are only 2 months older and they are all still pullets. I’ve read if they are still young you didn’t have to separate, yadda yadda.

 

[Chickenmama1115]

I've never integrated older birds (just chicks), so I always gloss over this. Quarantine first!

They are all still young. My birds are 5 months and my new ones are 2-4 months.

 

[JedJackson]

See I wasn’t sure if I needed to do the whole see no touch rule since my current birds are only 2 months older and they are all still pullets. I’ve read if they are still young you didn’t have to separate, yadda yadda.

When they are really young it's not as much of an issue, but at 5 months, yes, they are going to go after the newbies. You can just put them in there to see how it goes. Sometimes the unexpected happens.

If you do that, it seems to help to do it at night, and put the new ones on the roost bars with the ones already in the coop. It's worth a try.

But if the attacks are vicious so that blood is drawn or they are ganging up on the little ones, then I would separate them and do the 'see but not touch' thing for a couple of weeks.

The main thing is to keep a close eye on them when they are introduced, and to intervene if things go too far. You need to make sure everyone has access to food and water-- it helps to set up multiple stations for a while until things settle down.

 

[thecatumbrella]

See I wasn’t sure if I needed to do the whole see no touch rule since my current birds are only 2 months older and they are all still pullets. I’ve read if they are still young you didn’t have to separate, yadda yadda.

They are all still young. My birds are 5 months and my new ones are 2-4 months.

Unfortunately, they are too old. My young pullets wouldn’t even accept chicks (who are no threat to them). It also differs from bird to bird. The ones lowest on the pecking order usually have the hardest time. They don’t want to lose their position to the newbies!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you have pictures of your chicken coop and run? How large is it?

Excellent questions.

You do not get guarantees with living animals. I've had siblings, chicks hatched together and being raised by a broody hen, kill each other. I've had 8-week-old chicks kill 2-week-old chicks when they got separated from a a broody hen and were trapped in their pen where the broody could not protect them. There are stories on this forum where older chicks took younger chicks under their wing to help raise them. I've had 3-week-old chicks weaned by a broody hen that made their own way in the flock. I regularly integrate 5-week-old chicks with adults. I cannot tell you what will happen when you try to integrate yours. I do firmly believe that the more room they have the better your chances. What I usually see is the younger forming a separate flock and avoiding the older ones, day and night. It helps to have widely separated feeding and watering stations so they can eat and drink without having to intermingle. That's why asking how much room you have is an excellent question.

how do I introduce new chickens to my current?

How much room do you have and what do your facilities look like?