Introducing two single hens?

[vivadevo]

I'm very new at this -- city girl, and just started out less than a year ago. My flock was just two year-old chickens, and one recently went off to the big coop in the sky -- everything I see online talks about introducing groups of hens to each other, but what about a pair of singles? I don't want the one I have to be lonely, but my smallish yard can really only support two (coop at night; free range during the day).

Also, on a related note: I purchased these two chickens at point-of-lay from a farm in my area -- if I bought the next chicken from this same farm, would the quarantine rules still apply?

Thanks,

Heather

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
quarantine always applies. I soley get birds from some of my breeder friends and they alwasy go through 30 days in a seperate coop. Aww Poor other girl really needs a buddy though

 

[vivadevo]

Thank you!

And yes, she does seem ... needy. Sweet, but needy. Poor thing.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would skip the quarantine if you have just one hen. Unless you are going to be devastated by her loss, some people are. But it is not like you are risking introducing a disease to 30 chickens.

I think the need to have a friend at this point out weighs the risk of a disease. As long as you are getting a healthy bird, not a recue bird, and especially if you know who and where you are getting the bird from, not a swap.

MrsK

 

[vivadevo]

But when I get the second hen, do I need to keep them separate-but-equal for a certain amount of time, or make them free range in a place neither has ever been together, or any of the other things suggested when introducing a new hen to a whole flock? The single surviving hen I have now was definitely the dominant half of her little two-hen flock -- will just putting the other hen on the roost at night be OK, or am I asking for trouble?

 

[jmscheshire]

I also have a similar question. I have three 5 month old hens, and I recently adopted a healthy 3 year old banty hen. My three hens are very agressive towards the new banty, so I keep them separate. I am trying to introduce them slowly (I've had them for a week), but two of the hens are mean to the banty, and if given the chance they try to peck at her head. Does anyone know how long it will take the hens to calm down towards the banty? Any tips for a successful integration? Thanks.