Merging Flocks

[hnt15]

ok so I have had a flock of 8 (6 hens 2 Roosters) and I incubated 6 eggs from them and now have 5 more hens and one rooster. we have two cops and a run that connects. I want to bring 2 more hens in...the two flocks I ha e now don't fight but don't really mingle either. would it be ok to put the 2 new hens in the smaller coop and close off the run and larger coop for a few days with the two flocks I have currently to acclimate them all....just wondering don't want any fighting if it can be avoided.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can try it but you may see problems. Chickens don't like to switch coops, not do they like others to move into their coop.

Adding 2 strange hens to 2 separate established flock may take a long time. I definitely wouldn't rush it and expect it to take a month or even longer.

 

[tacothechicken]

What Old hens said! Also a few rules and tings to consider cause that ratio equals new birds easily killed...
1st: new birds should be quarantined AWAY from for at least a week.
2nd: if all your birds are related to original flock then this is gonna be a totally different scenario than a bunch of birds raised within the flock.
3rd:I advise have mini coop for new birds post quarantine then let them or current birds free range whith one or the other locked in run/coop as look don't touch. After they've been non aggressive for at least a week straight let some of the old birds be let loose whith new ones bit by bit until everyones ok. After that's been done successfully TWICE in a row I'd say they're good to go in coop but if a fight breaks out you'll kinda need to start over cause chickens are vengeful.

 

[hnt15]

ok so when I come home to let the two flocks free range in the yard the flocks have always switched coops but at night they have gone back to their original coop...they are already being quarantined away from both flocks...could i try to merge the two existing flocks in one coop to see how they react before bringing the other two....

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

ok so when I come home to let the two flocks free range in the yard the flocks have always switched coops but at night they have gone back to their original coop...they are already being quarantined away from both flocks...could i try to merge the two existing flocks in one coop to see how they react before bringing the other two....

That's exactly what I would do first. That way you aren't burning your bridges as the saying goes.

 

[hnt15]

That's exactly what I would do first. That way you aren't burning your bridges as the saying goes.

Hi oldhenlikesdogs,

so I was able to merge the two flocks with no problem. Thank you for the advice...my newer hatched rooster has gotten really big and nasty (bigbird) so I ended putting him in a coop by himself and the others in the coop and our run. I let the nasty roo out to free range for a while then put him back in and let the newly merged flocks out with the one new bird...one died before getting to my house. Everything was going great for about 3 weeks now half of the flock has respiratory issues. I have been treating them all since I am unable to quarantine some in the other coop since bigbird is in that coop.

Have been treating them for almost a week and they are seeming to get better.

Just wanted to update on how it went and thank you for the advice.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Glad the integration is going well. Sorry about the respiratory problems, that can happen sometimes when new birds come in. They can bring things in your current birds aren't immune to and vice versa. Hopefully everyone gets over it.