Is there a procedure to transfer to a new hen house.

[dig deep]

Good morning world.
I now have only two girls after Mr Fox decided he wanted to eat the third girl so my flock isn't big at all. I am thinking of getting a bigger house for the remaining two with a view to adding another two birds soon.
My question is: Is there a procedure when introducing my two girls to their new house or will they just accept it when it comes.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Lock them in the coop for about a week so they will know it is home. They will get used to roosting in there and laying in there. Then you can let them out to the run or free-range, however you manage that. If you leave them any way to go back to their old home, they will until they get used to the new home.

 

[MIKE555444]

Quote:
Great advice... took the words out of me mouth

 

[hensonly]

How about making your life even easier (and theirs!) and putting your current girls into a new coop at the same time you add the new ones? Then nobody has a territory staked out, it's one big upheaval instead of two separate ones. Or would that make both transitions even harder? I haven't a clue, just wondered...I'm in the same boat, too, planning to move my laying flock into a bigger coop and also wanting to add a few new hens...so I'm real interested in this thread!

 

[cobrien]

I think you will have an easy time getting them used to the new house; the challenging part is introducing new chickens.

After you quarantine the new girls (people recommend 30-45 days), it will help with territorial issues if you introduce them to the new house at the same time. HOWEVER you will still likely have some fighting, potentially serious fighting if this is the first time they see each other. I'd say quarantine, then put the new girls near the old girls but separated by a fence so they can see and hear each other for a week or more (a dog crate with food/water within the existing set up works well), put the feeders near the fence/partition so they get used to eating near each other. Then move them all to the bigger house, and put extra waterers and feeders out, it will reduce fighting. Chickens can be incredibly mean, so you want to do the introduction slowly. If you've never done this before, it might surprise you how nasty the fighting can be. But don't worry - it can be done it just takes time!

There will be less fighting if your coop / run is on the bigger side. Also, look for breeds that are less aggressive when you pick your 2 new girls (google "henderson breed chart" for good advice).

R.E. the quarantine - it is a major pain in the butt, but it is very worth it to prevent spreading diseases to your flock and to your new coop!

Good luck!