New chicks to the flock

[ggirlfarmmom]

The time has almost come for our not so little girls to leave the brooder and join their big sisters outside. We have 2 remaining from the original flock, about 4 years old. One red, one Easter egger. When they’re ready, we have 5 new (about 3 months old) reds to join the flock outside. Any ideas or suggestions to set them up for success? Thank you!

 

[sloanbychoice]

Definitely keep them in separate pens next to each other first. This lets them get used to each other without any harm.

 

[ggirlfarmmom]

Definitely keep them in separate pens next to each other first. This lets them get used to each other without any harm.

Thank you! I am a very nervous momma hen!

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your run look like? Is it an open rectangle where as a bird can see every other bird from any position? A lot of runs are like that. Put in a lot of clutter. Platforms where birds can get on top of or underneath, pallets leaned against the wall make great hideouts, a ladder or roosts or a saw horse, an old chair, a tote on its side. These are all places a bird can get away from the other birds, and out of sight.

You should have multiple feed stations, and have them set up so that while a bird is eating at one station, they cannot see another bird at the 2nd or 3rd feed place.

Then turn you old girls outside the set up and lock them out and the new ones in the coop/run for a day. This allows the new birds to explore the new set up without being chased for their lives. As close to dark as possible, let the old girls back in. The urge to fight is about equal with the urge to roost, close to dark roosting will win.

Do this when you can keep a eye on things for two days. Scuffles ignore, if one is relentless - a squirt gun or take the mean one and put her where the chicks are now for a few days.

Mrs K

 

[ggirlfarmmom]

What does your run look like? Is it an open rectangle where as a bird can see every other bird from any position? A lot of runs are like that. Put in a lot of clutter. Platforms where birds can get on top of or underneath, pallets leaned against the wall make great hideouts, a ladder or roosts or a saw horse, an old chair, a tote on its side. These are all places a bird can get away from the other birds, and out of sight.

You should have multiple feed stations, and have them set up so that while a bird is eating at one station, they cannot see another bird at the 2nd or 3rd feed place.

Then turn you old girls outside the set up and lock them out and the new ones in the coop/run for a day. This allows the new birds to explore the new set up without being chased for their lives. As close to dark as possible, let the old girls back in. The urge to fight is about equal with the urge to roost, close to dark roosting will win.

Do this when you can keep a eye on things for two days. Scuffles ignore, if one is relentless - a squirt gun or take the mean one and put her where the chicks are now for a few days.

Mrs K

Those are great ideas! We have a pretty open run with only the legs of the coop in their line of sight. We’ll definitely clutter it up, thank you! We’re building a new run and coop to increase their space. Clutter will be so much fun to add in! Thank you for your help!

 

[ggirlfarmmom]

Those are great ideas! We have a pretty open run with only the legs of the coop in their line of sight. 8’ x 8’ fenced area with a coop on ‘stilts’ so they have shade. Very open sight lines! We’ll definitely clutter it up, thank you! We’re building a new run and coop to increase their space. Clutter will be so much fun to add in! Thank you for your help!

 

[aart]

When they’re ready, we have 5 new (about 3 months old) reds to join the flock outside. Any ideas or suggestions to set them up for success? Thank you!

2 months ago would have been ideal, so for the future:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

@Mrs. K covered it well, here's some other 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/

 

[ggirlfarmmom]

Thank you! I definitely let my fear of the ‘what if’s’ slow the process down. Thanks for the great info, I really appreciate it! We’ve given the babies yard time next to the big girls enclosed coop so they’re not complete strangers, thankfully. But next time I will be so much better prepared. Thanks!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Thanks for the info. Don't have a coop, have 3 W. chicks in an enclosure. Will 'clutter' the back yard a bit More...