New hens added to my flock

[Young MacDonald]

Galaxy, I haven't tried this yet, but according to the book, take the lowest ranked bird of the existing flock and have that bird meet the new birds. After they establish the pecking order among themselves, then you will remove the bird and take the next lowest ranked bird and introduce it to the new birds. This way, there is only one of the bigger birds pecking on your new birds at any one time.

Also, I think cointoss's method works, in part, because the new birds begin to think of the run and coop as their own so they are less timid when faced with the older hen.

I am a novice too, but I'm reading everything I can.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[kristenm1975]

From the start, I've done everything all wrong when bringing home new chickens. I haven't ever quarantined new ones, just tossed them in there, and watched to see what happened. In only two cases out of dozens, I removed the new ones because I felt they were being pecked at too much.

Other than those two times, they have all worked out the pecking order beautifully, with no injuries or anything more serious than a single feather here or there being plucked. No sick ones either.

 

[galaxyflyer1]

All very good ideas. I usually do a lot of research before jumping into anything, but I don't know what happened this time...

Short story long;

My wife and I live on a 1 1/2 acre property. The back section, formerly where animals were many years ago is a 1/2 acre, fenced off. Last winter we decided to get a few hens for pets and eggs. Picturing that perfect calm, farm yard picture.

Knowing that we do have night time predators, I built a roosting/ egg house that is built like a vault. I even built an automatic door that opens and closes with light. I built an out pen that is protected from hawks because I saw several hawks on and over our property. So there went my vision of free range chickens. Maybe when they are good and fat I will let them out and hope that a hawk won’t pick them up. Still not sure though.

Now I was ready to get my first chickens! I bought five 1 1/2 month old chickens. The lady sexed them as best as possible as we don't want a rooster. Two were weak and one of them died. From that I found this site for help and read many horror stories. From diseases to worming making me think, "what did I get myself into?”

The other one I doctored turned into a rooster! One of the others also turned into a rooster. Both were the tamest of all. We gave the two roos away over the weekend. It was very hard and I felt really sorry for them but I had to do it.

So now I was in a hurry to get my two hens some friends because I felt sorry for them. Had I known that they don't like strangers, I would have waited a bit to be more prepared. Maybe I should have never started all this. But I do like to visit them a few times a day. My two original ones are very happy to see me. I guess in time the other two new ones will like me too.

Thank you all for your help,

PS, my home brew Auto coop door can be seen on this web page that our administrator Rob from this site also manages.
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/auto-coop-door-ii-antenna.php

Bob