Introducing new hens to flock

[dvfd236]

Hello,

I currently have 6 hens and 1 cockerel approx. 4.5 months old. (jersey giants and barred rocks) I plan on purchasing 3 red sex links to add to the flock that are approx. 5. months old. What precautions will i need to take when doing this? I have read stories from slipping them in the coop at night to keeping them separate and some say just let them go with the others and nature will do its thing. The birds will have 10 square foot per bird in the run. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[jbravo54]

I chicken sat once. Instead of going to there house every day, I brought them over to our house for the week. I brought them over at night, and put them straight in the coop. I made sure I got up with the sun to get the doors open early for them to have their space. It only took a couple days for them to all get along for the most part. Chickens are chickens.

 

[1cityslicker]

What I've done for adding chicks to the adult flock is segregating an area in the run for the chicks so they can become acquainted then putting them in the coop at night. Rinse and repeat for a week. For adding same or close to the same age is just throwing them into the fire so to speak. Sure there's going to be some pecking going on but as long as the new can get away from the pecking they'll be fine. Everyone will adjust.

 

[floridagirl13]

I have one cockerel - Chanti - and one pullet - Ginger - (yea, yea I know. Long story) and I found a local breeder who even has great reviews. I am working on a coop for Chanti to move into. I live on a busy truck route and our barn cat is the biggest predator threat, next to hawks, owls and stray dogs (or coyotes, as FL calls them) so I don't feel they would be safe to free range, unfortunately. I want to get 2 or 3 pullets to move in with Ginger. What I am wondering is should I use Chanti's Soon-to-be Bachelor Pad as a quarantine cage for Ginger's new roomies? And how long should I keep them seperated? Reviews for this breeder say his birds are happy and healthy and that he may be the best source for pure bred chickens in the central FL region, and I got good "vibes" from him over the phone - but you never know