New chickens and rooster to the flock

Chodgson

In the Brooder
Jul 28, 2021
5
26
34
Hey everyone! I know there’s a few topics on this. I just acquired 4 new laying hens and a rooster about 1 year old. Our current flock is 8 months old or so including our 8 month old rooster. I’m wondering how to safely introduce the new flock and rooster to my existing one. Specifically the rooster because I don’t want them to kill each other. My current flock free range during the day and I have the new ones in a separate area for now until I can safely put them all together. Any help would be appreciated!
 
Hey!! I’m new to this group! I have 26 in my flock which are 3 roosters, 6 silkies, and a mix of brahmas and barnyard mix! I have 7 currently laying and anxiously awaiting the rest to lay! However, my silkies are going to a new home soon and we are looking to add more laying hens to the flock!
So silkies are gone, including 2 males?

Still, multiple males can be a problem, only time will tell if they get along or not.

Have you considered biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better.
Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/
 

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