Two weeks ago I bought my first hens, an assorted of 12 hens from one family who raised them by hand and free ranged them and 3 Rhode Island Reds from another family who free ranged them. They were all new to our family and to their brand new coop and they all adapted and adjusted well to the move and all the girls get along great. However, on Wednesday, I plan on getting 3 new hens from another farmer who is trying to diminish their flock for the winter. Are there any tips or suggestions on how to integrate the new birds into our little family of hens (we also have one dog and one cat who love hanging out with the girls)? My hens are under 6 months of age and have not begun to lay eggs yet. The three that I am getting are under a year, but have been laying eggs for at least a couple of months (not sure if that makes a difference) I appreciate any suggestions. thanks in advance Mark
Here's a writeup done by a BYCer on the subject: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock
