New Hen Introduction

[THE_ScottyJ]

Hello all...first time poster here. I've searched through the threads and finding a wealth of information about introduction of new hens/chicks to an existing flock, but I'm hoping to offer my scenario specific situation up for advice and comment.

We have (5) hens....all 10 months old at this point....(3) ISA Browns and (2) Easter Eggers and I am interested in adding (2) more of a different breed for bring in diversity in eggs to begin offsetting their egg laying life so I don't have 5 hens reach their end all at the same time.

Can I add just two hens? I've read a ton about HOW and WHEN to introduce, but my specific question simply is...."will adding two hens to an existing flock of five pose any problems?". I'll be purchasing them as pullets and brooding them in the usual manner and doing a slow introduction once they reach 10-12 weeks.

I built my open coop (approx. 6' x 9'...Pic attached for reference) that features an enclosed run and access to the hen house and nesting boxes. We let them out during the day to free range about a 1/2 acre fenced in back yard. My math tells me that I could accommodate up to 8 hens in this space.

Thanks in advance. I welcome any thoughts or suggestions

 

[cherrynberry]

It will be fine. I recommend to let the new hens see your formal chickens and not be able to get to them (Like through wire mesh) and then slowly inroduce them.

 

[THE_ScottyJ]

It will be fine. I recommend to let the new hens see your formal chickens and not be able to get to them (Like through wire mesh) and then slowly inroduce them.

That's my plan.. I'm going to build a playpen next to the existing coop so everybody can see one another. I'll put the new girls in the playpen while the existing flock is in the enclosed run and then put them back in their brooder at night.

I figured that things should be fine...I was more concerned with the number of 2...didn't know if I should hold off and do more later or 2 now would be fine.

Thanks so much for the response.

 

[Mrs. K]

Where are you at? I think the coop portion of the set up is quite small. If you have the long days of winter, this might be a big problem. The coop is the place where they sleep. Free ranging during the day, does not make up for not enough space at roosting time.

Instead of waiting until they are 10-12 weeks, I have been getting mine in the flock at 3-4 weeks, with little issues. Place them beside the oldies like you have planned for a week, then create an opening so that the chicks can go forth, but retreat to safety, while the bigger girls can't follow them. This lets the chicks work this out on their terms, not your terms. Within a week, mine have been eating right next to the big girls.

Also - setting up some hideouts, some roosts, some platforms where birds can get out of sight of each other will really help. If you look, you will realize that every chicken, can see every other chicken 100% of the time. If a chicken can get out of sight, they are often out of mind.

Setting up feed stations whereas a bird eating in one place, cannot see a bird eating at another place is a good way to make sure that everyone is getting enough to eat.

Good luck,

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I would not try to add more birds to that setup......it's kinda maxed out already.

 

[3KillerBs]

Free ranging during the day, does not make up for not enough space at roosting time.

This!

Chickens take up space. A chicken can be thought of as a 15" cube and they don't stack for storage.

 

[aart]

and they don't stack for storage.

 

[3KillerBs]

Minecraft has helped my DH really internalize chickens' need for space.

 

[THE_ScottyJ]

Where are you at? I think the coop portion of the set up is quite small. If you have the long days of winter, this might be a big problem. The coop is the place where they sleep. Free ranging during the day, does not make up for not enough space at roosting time.

Instead of waiting until they are 10-12 weeks, I have been getting mine in the flock at 3-4 weeks, with little issues. Place them beside the oldies like you have planned for a week, then create an opening so that the chicks can go forth, but retreat to safety, while the bigger girls can't follow them. This lets the chicks work this out on their terms, not your terms. Within a week, mine have been eating right next to the big girls.

Also - setting up some hideouts, some roosts, some platforms where birds can get out of sight of each other will really help. If you look, you will realize that every chicken, can see every other chicken 100% of the time. If a chicken can get out of sight, they are often out of mind.

Setting up feed stations whereas a bird eating in one place, cannot see a bird eating at another place is a good way to make sure that everyone is getting enough to eat.

Good luck,

Mrs K

Thanks for the feedback!

We are in south western Pennsylvania. The coop design I went with stated it was "rated" for up to 8 hens. Within the hen house, there are two roosting bars...each 3 feet in length.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for the feedback!

We are in south western Pennsylvania. The coop design I went with stated it was "rated" for up to 8 hens. Within the hen house, there are two roosting bars...each 3 feet in length.

Unfortunately, manufacturers are notorious for wildly exaggerating the number of birds that can be housed in their coops, often using the legal maximums for commercially-kept chickens (which are managed with intensive methods not suited for backyard chicken keepers).

The generally-accepted guidelines for backyard chickens are as follows:

4 square feet of space in the coop per adult, standard-sized chicken.

10 square feet of space in the run per adult, standard-sized chicken.

1 linear foot of roost per adult, standard-sized chicken.

1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation per adult, standard-sized chicken.

Because chickens can't read those are guidelines rather than hard-and-fast rules. Some chickens might tolerate tighter quarters. Some might need more space.

The higher the stocking density the more likely you are to have behavioral and/or health problems.