May I Please Smell You, Cause Someone Doesn't Smell Right

[Adopted Chickenman]

Do chickens recognize each other by smell?

I have two sets of chickens. The first set of five pullets are 23 weeks old. The second set of six chicks are 5 weeks old. All eleven chicken are different breeds. In order to intergrate both sets of chickens into one flock, I have placed a small coop within my main chicken run. Eventhough neither set of chickens can interact with each other, they can see, smell, and hear each other. For the next several weeks, I plan to let the pullets out to free range as normal. While they are out and about, I will let the chicks out into the large run to help familarize them with their new run/larger coop. Prior to bringing back the pullets, I will place the chicks back into their safe area. I am hoping that this action will help unite the flock. I realize that there will be some altercations between the chickens to readjust the pecking order, but I hope this will keep the fighting down to a minimum. Has anyone else used this practice and does it help? Are there any other suggestion out there that can be more helpful? I want this transition to be as smooth as possible. BTW, separate food will still be available for each set of chickens until the chicks transition to layer feed at 18 weeks.

 

[danischi24]

Their sense of smell is about as good as ours so no, not very helpful. However they are very sight orientated so seeing each other for a while will help them integrate.

 

[midget_farms]

I don't think chickens can smell at all.

The only birds I am aware of that have a sense of smell are vultures.

 

[ninjascrub69]

Quote:
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[Adopted Chickenman]

Medical Research Council (MRC) scientists have ended lengthy scientific speculation by confirming that chickens have an acute sense of smell. This is just one surprising fact uncovered by the MRC team studying the evolution of genes as part of the International Chicken Genome Sequencing Project.

The chicken might not seem the most obvious animal to help scientists understand the function of human genes. But for many years the chicken has played important roles in biomedical research, and this has led to important advances in immunology, developmental biology and cancer research.

 

[Keara]

I can't speak to smell but..... your method of introducing the new chickens is very much like my own, and has always worked for me!

 

[AllCoop'dUp]

I read somewhere that chickens can remember up to 100 pecking orders. That's pretty good. All I can remember is about 10!