introducing new hens...

[salliet]

I have been reading all morning and have not found any advice for my particular situation. I have six - 6 1/2 week old hens. I have a chance to add to my flock today. They are from the same place I purchased my chicks - Agway. If they are close to the same age 8-10 weeks and from a reputable seller - do I have to quarantine them and keep them in a cage inside, etc, etc, etc?
I really would like more than six chickens but I don't want to go through the chick raising next spring. My house is just too tiny for that!
I know it sounds like I am looking for the easy way out here - and I guess I am!

 

[rjohns39]

Even though they are from the same seller, I would keep them separate for a month, then bring them near the flock but still in shelter for a couple of weeks. There's no need at this age to keep them in the house or inside.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's really up to you as far as quarantine... when I added 2 new birds to my first 2 (all were 7 weeks, all bought from same source) I didn't quarantine as I was hoping to integrate them before they had any real pecking order established.

 

[aart]

Quarantine is your choice/risk...but it's still best to keep them separate for a time before allowing to meet.

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


FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).

 

[salliet]

Thank you everyone! I have decided not to add any new pullets to my harem. I will wait until next spring. My girls seem so content in their new home - I don't want to do anything that will upset them!

aart - thanks for the detailed info. I will refer back to this when I am ready to add to my flock. also - thanks for the vocab lesson. I am learning as I go!!!