Introducing new pullets to tiny flock

[Jazzcat]

I am down to 2 buff orphington hens, one is almost 9 years old and the other is a little over a year. My mom has raised 4 more buff orphingtons that are 12 weeks old. When I introduce them should I do two at a time to not overwhelm my established 2 hens or?? Any help is appreciated.

 

[cavemanrich]

Your young chicks will not overwhelm your 2 adult hens. Just do it to it and observe.
Orphington hens are generally docile gentle chickens.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, the old ones are generally mean, the more they have to chase, the sooner they get tired of it.

I would suggest letting the big girls out of the run and locking the new ones in. Let them explore the run, hideouts, and figure things out. Then close to dark let the big ones back in. Expect some bluster, feathers and birds flying, but the urge to roost will stop most of it if you do it late enough.

Do get down there early the next morning. Do have multiple feed bowls set up so while eating at one they can’t be seen from another bowl. Do have a lot of clutter in it, pallets, ladders, roosts, mini walls anything to interfere with the direct line of sight.

Mrs K

 

[Bsmac]

Your young chicks will not overwhelm your 2 adult hens. Just do it to it and observe.
Orphington hens are generally docile gentle chickens.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I agree!

 

[Bsmac]

I am down to 2 buff orphington hens, one is almost 9 years old and the other is a little over a year. My mom has raised 4 more buff orphingtons that are 12 weeks old. When I introduce them should I do two at a time to not overwhelm my established 2 hens or?? Any help is appreciated.

I would put them all in!

 

[tlcmurphy]

I was also down to 2 Buff Orpingtons (4 years old), when I introduced two 8-10 week old pullets. The new ones were locked in the extended run, see no touch, for 2 weeks then I let them all mingle. It helps if you can free range some while they mingle also.
I agree with introducing them all at once and having multiple feeders/waterers. They will likely remain as 2 separate sub flocks for awhile, but that’s fine.