New Chickens

[Paige2634]

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[A_Fowl_Guy]

You’ll still need to keep them separate and introduce slowly. They will be attacked otherwise.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Here is a link explaining everything

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-to-introduce-new-chickens-to-your-existing-flock/

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

How big is the coop?

 

[aart]

my question is getting more birds isn’t going to make my chickens “unhappy” right?

Um, yes, it most likely will.

Integration works best with extra space.
I cannot imagine doing an integration in winter....unless you've got a large weather and predator proof run.
Never good to take birds you feel sorry for,
or to help someone get out of a management jam of their own making.
JMHO.
Notes below on integration and quarantine.


Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Mrs. K]

Truthfully the old girls would be picked on much worse by your birds, more so than where they currently are. They will be strangers to your birds, where as where they are now, the flock knows them. If they are getting picked on there, often times they are near the end. They will have lived long enough to be exposed to many diseases, and are old so they are not going to last much longer anyway. You will be getting them to bury them.

Don't ever take birds you feel sorry for, you are risking your whole flock. If you want more birds, get chicks or point of lay birds.

This is more than likely going to be a wreck for all of the birds involved.

Mrs K

 

[Paige2634]

Truthfully the old girls would be picked on much worse by your birds, more so than where they currently are. They will be strangers to your birds, where as where they are now, the flock knows them. If they are getting picked on there, often times they are near the end. They will have lived long enough to be exposed to many diseases, and are old so they are not going to last much longer anyway. You will be getting them to bury them.

Don't ever take birds you feel sorry for, you are risking your whole flock. If you want more birds, get chicks or point of lay birds.

This is more than likely going to be a wreck for all of the birds involved.

Mrs K

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[rosemarythyme]

I calculated it out to there is 4 square feet per bird at 11 in the coop and 10 square feet per bird in their run. They’ll have plenty of space just don’t want mine to be unhappy due to the new additions!

Your main issue will be space. Your space calculations work, but at an absolute minimum, for a flock of birds that are already getting along with one other. Adding more birds takes extra space, because there will most likely be aggression issues as the birds fight for their position in the new flock.

If you can't give them more space overall I wouldn't take on new birds.

 

[Mrs. K]

Your current flock, your family of pets will not like these new birds, and will not be nice. More than likely they will attack the new comers very actively. They will have a very miserable time in your flock and maybe it will settle down in a few weeks, but on here have been posts where it goes on for a very long time.

They don't understand that you want to give the new girls a good life, chickens don't think like that. They think this is competition for their space and food.

I am sorry I hurt your feelings about these birds, and while I highly commend your sentiments, chickens won't follow your lead. You asked if your chickens will be upset, and the answer is yes. There is a good chance that the old birds could bring in disease by being a carrier, that your flock is not immune too or vice versa.

The birds you bring in are going to cause a great deal of tension in your flock. And because they are coming in as victims, in a new place, with new food, and new chickens, that victim mode is going to make them very apt to be picked on much worse than when they were at least part of the flock.

To me, you are making a great deal of trouble for your current flock. But to each their own way of doing things. Good luck. They are animals, and sometimes things do work...but I would not expect it to, which is what you asked.

Mrs K