Introducing new chicks

[lollydolly]

Hi,

We had 3 Pekin bantams but sadly lost one in the cold weather. The other 2 are now thriving and have started to lay. I wanted to replace the lady we lost but was advised not to just introduce 1 chicken as this will get bullied. I am happy to have another 2 in my small flock and was just after some tips on how to introduce them? My 2 at the moment free range all day and put themselves to bed at night before I lock them away.

Thanks

 

[Keltara]

Because you free range your girls all day, you have the best possible conditions for introducing someone new. I free range all day as well. This is what I did. I had 3 one year old chickens and needed to introduce our babies that we had hand raised. I put the 3 babies in the chicken run with a safe divider that protected them completely from the biggies. They were around 7 weeks old at the time. I kept all the chickens in the run for the morning with the babies separated from the biggies but so they could see each other. Then I would let the biggies free range for a few hours without the babies and vice versa. After about 4 or 5 days of this, I would allow the babies and the biggies to free range at the same time. The first time they were able to access each other, the babies ran right up to the big girls who instantly tried and I want to stress "tried" to peck them. The babies were quick and easily able to run away from them since they were outside and not confined to the coop or run. Each night, I would sleep the babies in the run while the biggies slept in the coop as usual. Whenever they free ranged, the 3 biggies hung out together and the 3 babies hung out together always keeping a respectable distance from the biggies. After a couple months, they integrated themselves into a united flock with everyone knowing their place on the pecking order. None of my babies were ever bullied, injured or hurt in any way. The chickens were able to unite each other on their terms and in their time. Once they started to free range as a united flock, I began putting the babies into the coop at night. I would wait until after dark and be sure to let them out first thing in the morning so they biggies never had a chance to harm them. Today, they are a VERY happy flock of 6. I do not believe that any new girls need to ever be bullied upon introduction to an existing group.

Kelly

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Our Country Chronicles

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[lollydolly]

Thanks so much for this I'm looking to get two new girls later this month. They won't be babies I'm going to the same breeder so the new girls will be the same age as mine (9months old) or maybe a tiny bit younger. Do you think this will be easier or harder to introduce than babies? X

 

[Keltara]

I think it'll be easier, because they are already bigger. I'd use the same method though. Yours will probably integrate themselves sooner.

 

[lollydolly]

Thanks so much for the advice I can't wait to get my new ladies. X

 

[Klaudia88]

It is really nice post. Thank you form information Maybe find ouvrants?

 

[dogsrockx2]

I am planning on doing a similar thing. I just lost a buff orpington and I want to add two new orpington chicks. Should I raise them in a brooder and then use the separator? Thanks.

 

[Keltara]

I am planning on doing a similar thing. I just lost a buff orpington and I want to add two new orpington chicks. Should I raise them in a brooder and then use the separator? Thanks.

Absolutely.