New girls

[snazzyboots]

last week a fox killed 2 of our girls leaving a 3 year old Delaware by herself. We got some new birds today. All 10-12 weeks old. Got a jersey giant, Rhode Island Red, naked neck, and barred rock. We let the new girls explore the coop/run while the Delaware is free ranging. She went in a couple times and everything was totally fine. How long do we need to wait to let them free range? Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[aart]

We let the new girls explore the coop/run while the Delaware is free ranging.

Good move!

She went in a couple times and everything was totally fine.

That's great, but how did she go in in the new birds were confined?

How long do we need to wait to let them free range? Any suggestions?

I'd keep new birds confined to coop and run for at least a week so they can 'home' to their new home.

Here some tips and tricks that might help regarding....
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.

 

[snazzyboots]

Good move!


That's great, but how did she go in in the new birds were confined?

I'd keep new birds confined to coop and run for at least a week so they can 'home' to their new home.

Here some tips and tricks that might help regarding....
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.

We let her in when she wanted to go in. There was a bit of chasing but not much pecking this morning. I will try to add some stuff to climb/hide on. Thanks!

 

[drumstick diva]

snazzyboots, love your user name. But beyond that am interested in knowing how you are handling their merging . What works, what does not.

 

[snazzyboots]

So far so good. The Delaware chases the new ones some and a little pecking but nothing serious. She’s able to be out of the run a lot but I think it’s going well. I’m hopeful that they will be friends in time.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think it is very helpful when the new birds seriously out number the original birds. There is only so much chasing and pecking a single bird can do, I would expect this to go pretty well pretty quickly.

 

[snazzyboots]

Thanks. That was our thought too. We took age into account as well. Fingers crossed!