Introducing new members to a flock

[scot123]

I have a group of seven laying hens that are two years old. I want to add some new members to the flock. They will be newly brooded chicks. How mature do they need to be, and what can I do to ease their introduction?

Thanks!

 

[Hoffy]

When I introduce new birds, I wait until they are 12 to 15 weeks - something that looks like they can handle themselves. The first few days are rough on the new birds, but I try to give them a couple advantages...
- Make sure there is plenty of room in the run and coop for them to get away from the older birds
- Provide two watering and feeding stations well apart from one another
- Introduce the young birds to the old birds at night by putting them in the coop when the birds are relaxed
- If you have the space, fence the young birds and older birds nearby to one another before introduction
- if your roosts are at different heights, make sure the lowest roost is close to the coop door, since the young birds will be last in and first out for the first few weeks

Hope that helps!