Introducing ONE new hen

[PollosMama]

We have a small flock, only 3. Now 2 since we had to cull one yesterday after 4 days of illness and isolation. One of the two is broody right now and hatching out 5 babies in a couple weeks. The other hen has been going crazy, pacing in the run until I let her out and making all kinds of noise.

I can tell she's lonely. So a friend was nice enough to offer one of her same age hens to me. I am picking her up this evening. Other than quarantining the new hen for a few weeks, and letting them meet through a fence, should we be ok letting them take turns free ranging in the yard during the day, and keep her in the cage in the run at night?

Will the broody hen lose it if I introduce a new hen right now?

Any other tips or tricks I should know? Ive read and read today. So all I can figure is let them take turns in the yard, and keep the new girl in the crate at night.

 

[chickens really]

Quarantine is way more than separated. If your getting it just put in a look no touch for a couple of days and release it. Disease transfer is something that you definitely need to be concerned about. All Chickens carry disease they just are immune to them till under stress.

 

[PollosMama]

So I should keep the new hen inside of a crate for 30 days?

 

[chickens really]

So I should keep the new hen inside of a crate for 30 days?

What?...Definitely not..

 

[PollosMama]

Ok. I didn't think so. Guess I'll do some more research on the topic. If they can't free range in the same yard at different times, I guess I'm just having a hard time figuring out exactly what needs to happen to ensure that they are introduced and kept separately correctly.

 

[chickens really]

Ok. I didn't think so. Guess I'll do some more research on the topic. If they can't free range in the same yard at different times, I guess I'm just having a hard time figuring out exactly what needs to happen to ensure that they are introduced and kept separately correctly.

Get the Bird and set up a look no touch pen so the fights are not happening..Then release her into the flock.
In your situation definitely a look no touch for a couple of days and then free range them together.

 

[PollosMama]

Thank you. I think I'm going to give the hen her own area for at least 3 weeks, and then move on to letting them free range together, then all into the same coop and run if all goes well. Now I just need to convince my husband to help me with the rearranging of things

 

[chickens really]

Thank you. I think I'm going to give the hen her own area for at least 3 weeks, and then move on to letting them free range together, then all into the same coop and run if all goes well. Now I just need to convince my husband to help me with the rearranging of things

Alright but you don't understand quarantine..If not housed far away and a hazmat protocol in place..Disease transfer happens. So setting her up in a look no touch close to the others is no different..

 

[PollosMama]

Ive got it. Thank you for your help. Im setting her up with her own coop and run area for the period of time needed. On the other side of our property.