Introducing new ladies!

[Micmac1234]

I would see how they all get along during supervised time. I have found it can take a few days before they’re able to fit in well. Even as babies it took about two weeks before everyone really got along with no incidents. But if they get along during supervised time without too much bullying by the bigger hens you can try night time coop time and see how it goes! Can always back track if needed!

Thank you!!!

 

[Micmac1234]

It's always normal practice to do integration first for all new birds. No physical contact but in sight of each other in the coop.

Generally depends on your flocks ability to accept them sooner or later. They need to be supervised during the day if there together in the run.

Did you quarantine your new birds?

I was hoping the flock would be accepting but I have two that just started laying and they were definitely the peckers.

 

[Micmac1234]

I'd really recommend a minimum of 1-2 weeks see but don't touch period before allowing them to have contact, and at that time it's ideal to have some time to supervise the birds. You should also have extra feeders and clutter available to help minimize conflict and allow birds to hide if needed if bullying occurs.

Do you think the new birds would be okay in that crate for 1-2 weeks though?! It’s a 36 inch dog crate. I wish I had a second coop or bigger run for them but unfortunately I do not and I don’t have the space to make one

 

[Micmac1234]

Let your original birds out of your set up into your yard, and lock the new ones in the coop/run. This lets them explore the set up without being chased. At dark, put the new ones in a kennel, in the coop and let the others come in and roost.

Rinse - repeat. Feed along the fence.

Do make sure that you have hide outs in your run, so many people just have open rectangles - add clutter, boxes, totes, roosts, things birds can get on top of or behind and out of sight. Add extra feed areas where as a bird eating at them is out of sight of birds eating at another one.

3-4 night, let the old birds in pretty near dark. Have ample roosting space in different places in the coop.

Mrs K

So the problem with letting them out every day is that I have dogs that I then need to lock inside. We’re working on training them but definitely not at a point where they can be out there together. I feel bad leaving them in their crate but I know they’re safe from bullying in there…

I’m trying to think of what I could add to the coop for them to hide…

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you think the new birds would be okay in that crate for 1-2 weeks though?! It’s a 36 inch dog crate. I wish I had a second coop or bigger run for them but unfortunately I do not and I don’t have the space to make one

This is how I turned a dog crate into an integration facility.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/

If you're short on space then integrating new birds into the flock is going to be difficult. Expand, if you possibly can.

Here are some helpful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

 

[Micmac1234]

This is how I turned a dog crate into an integration facility.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/

If you're short on space then integrating new birds into the flock is going to be difficult. Expand, if you possibly can.

Here are some helpful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

This is my coop. It’s about 81 square feet but 6 ft high. To the right are my gardens and to the left is a shed. All four posts are cemented in the ground… we let them out to free range a few times a week as well.

your makeshift run was awesome!!! Right now I just have the crate inside the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is my coop. It’s about 81 square feet but 6 ft high. To the right are my gardens and to the left is a shed. All four posts are cemented in the ground… we let them out to free range a few times a week as well.

your makeshift run was awesome!!! Right now I just have the crate inside the coop.

Electric poultry netting is a great way to expand your protected space.

 

[Micmac1234]

Electric poultry netting is a great way to expand your protected space.

I just don’t know which direction I would go

 

[Micmac1234]

I just don’t know which direction I would go

Electric poultry netting is a great way to expand your protected space.

Plus I have a toddler so electric netting is risky haha

 

[3KillerBs]

Plus I have a toddler so electric netting is risky haha

Yes, that would be a factor.