Introducing new hens to a flock

[Cinnamon11]

Hi so I recently got 3 chicks and I have 3 hens already. I was wondering how to introduce them and when to introduce them. They are 4 weeks right now and a lot smaller I also have 1 hen who is very large and aggressive. Any ideas?

 

[birdlover2]

Hi so I recently got 3 chicks and I have 3 hens already. I was wondering how to introduce them and when to introduce them. They are 4 weeks right now and a lot smaller I also have 1 hen who is very large and aggressive. Any ideas?

You can put them in a cage in their run or another container where they can see eachother and not interact. I personally like those old crates with holes in them and an open top so I can turn it upside-down and let them peck at the grass and bugs in the bottom. Or build another run next to them or in their run. The general guide-line for doing this is 2 weeks, so let them see eachother and not interact for two weeks. Start as soon as you can, so u can integrate them as soon as possible.

 

[Cinnamon11]

You can put them in a cage in their run or another container where they can see eachother and not interact. I personally like those old crates with holes in them and an open top so I can turn it upside-down and let them peck at the grass and bugs in the bottom. Or build another run next to them or in their run. The general guide-line for doing this is 2 weeks, so let them see eachother and not interact for two weeks. Start as soon as you can, so u can integrate them as soon as possible.

Ok how old should they be when I introduce them

 

[birdlover2]

Ok how old should they be when I introduce them

(Just start now, that's all I know)

 

[Cinnamon11]

(Just start now, that's all I know)

Ok I’m going to get to work on a run soon anyway I’ll put it in my big coop

 

[Pghelp]

We used a wire dog crate and just hauled them into the yard so they could start seeing one another. Make sure you give the little ones water and food. You can do that now so the big ones can start getting used to the new ones. We started letting ours run with the big ones at 7 weeks but I supervised. Now they're almost 10 weeks and we let them hang out together during the day, but we rigged a door so that the little ones can escape into their coop when they're tired of getting chased and pecked. Make sure you have hiding places in your run so the little ones can get away from the bullies if need be. Also watch out for fresh blood. We had to keep an eye on one who got pecked pretty hard to make sure she didn't get picked on even more. Good luck and be patient!

 

[Cinnamon11]

We used a wire dog crate and just hauled them into the yard so they could start seeing one another. Make sure you give the little ones water and food. You can do that now so the big ones can start getting used to the new ones. We started letting ours run with the big ones at 7 weeks but I supervised. Now they're almost 10 weeks and we let them hang out together during the day, but we rigged a door so that the little ones can escape into their coop when they're tired of getting chased and pecked. Make sure you have hiding places in your run so the little ones can get away from the bullies if need be. Also watch out for fresh blood. We had to keep an eye on one who got pecked pretty hard to make sure she didn't get picked on even more. Good luck and be patient!

Thanks this is your helpful!

 

[rosemarythyme]

My article on early integration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ Your chicks are still little enough that most of these things should work (especially providing safe space via gaps), provided you begin see-but-no-touch immediately.