Just joined

[Laura Kirbyson]

Hi, I just joined although I admit to lurking on the site in the past

We moved from city to rural 3 summers ago. By the end of the first summer, we had 4 hens and 3 chicks. One of the chicks became our rooster. He seems very good at guarding the flock as he's always watching the sky.

A week ago a neighbour asked if we wanted her heritage birds as she was downsizing. We jumped all over the opportunity! There are 19 of them, a variety of breeds I've yet to sort out. This includes 3 roosters. Their pecking order seems well established.

I would appreciate any advice on combining the 2 flocks. We made a much larger pen and have split the coop until they can be integrated together. The pen is split with wire fence and I move it around so the 2 groups don't get territorial. Maybe I'm overthinking?? At first it was the hens fence fighting but that seems to be over now (1 week today). From what I'm seeing, it's coming down to one of the new roosters and our original rooster.

Do I let them all out in the pen together? We have a very large treed/bush property and the original group I used to let out - maybe I let everyone out so there's lots of space and they don't fight? Is there any way I can make it so they don't fight to extremes?

Thanks so much. I always see such great advice and am hoping to learn more and more!

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are glad you joined our flock.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Please check out and enter these two current contest:

Official BYC Coop Article Contest - 2017 - Win a Auto Coop Door Kit

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[Teila]

G’Day from down under Laura Welcome!

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

Personally, I have found the Topic of the Week articles a great resource and a one stop shop for questions which may have already been discussed within the BYC membership group. If you scroll through, there is a discussion on 'Adding New Chickens to the Flock'.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[drumstick diva]

Check out "Look but don't touch "integration method. It's the kindest, gentlest manner of doing so. Put that in the search box and it should come up

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you've joined us! I suggest free ranging them all together as their first encounter together. That way they can get away from each other if needed and they'll be on new territory.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Here's some links, including the approach mentioned by D/Diva that may be helpful:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1098683/introducing-new-chickens-to-old-flock#post_16895615

 

[ronott1]

Hi, I just joined although I admit to lurking on the site in the past

We moved from city to rural 3 summers ago. By the end of the first summer, we had 4 hens and 3 chicks. One of the chicks became our rooster. He seems very good at guarding the flock as he's always watching the sky.

A week ago a neighbour asked if we wanted her heritage birds as she was downsizing. We jumped all over the opportunity! There are 19 of them, a variety of breeds I've yet to sort out. This includes 3 roosters. Their pecking order seems well established.

I would appreciate any advice on combining the 2 flocks. We made a much larger pen and have split the coop until they can be integrated together. The pen is split with wire fence and I move it around so the 2 groups don't get territorial. Maybe I'm overthinking?? At first it was the hens fence fighting but that seems to be over now (1 week today). From what I'm seeing, it's coming down to one of the new roosters and our original rooster.

Do I let them all out in the pen together? We have a very large treed/bush property and the original group I used to let out - maybe I let everyone out so there's lots of space and they don't fight? Is there any way I can make it so they don't fight to extremes?

Thanks so much. I always see such great advice and am hoping to learn more and more!

Enjoy BYC!
Some rooster do not get along. You may need to make two separate pens and fenced off areas for free ranging

 

[N F C]

Integration can be a slow process, so be prepared for that. And as ronott1 said, some will not get along no matter how hard you work at it. You've been given some good links to check out from the other greeters, hope they help.

Best of luck and thanks for joining us!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so excited that you've joined us

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Flock integration can be difficult. Rooster integration when dealing with mature roosters is almost always difficult. Your original rooster will not willingly give up his territory. Good luck.