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How do I introduce new girls to my existing flock & how many chickens should I have with one rooster? Thank you
 
A good ratio of hen to rooster is 8 to 10 hens per 1 rooster.

Introduce new birds slowly to a flock. And never mix in chicks younger than 3 months of age. If you are mixing in a rooster, if he is younger than 6 months of age, hens can be aggressive toward him. And try to always integrate more than one bird into an existing flock. One bird becomes a huge target. Two or more dissipates the aggression.

Keep the new birds in a cage or enclosure within the run and coop for about 3 to 4 weeks. Everybody sees, nobody touches. This gives everybody a chance to get to know each other. After about 3 or 4 weeks, you can mix them all together. Watch for too much aggression the first week and always intervene if it turns bloody. Put out more feeding and watering stations too as the original flock can starve them out.

Keep your space requirements of 5 square feet per bird in the coop at all times and 10 square feet per bird in the run as well.
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to our flock. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
 
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Welcome to BYC!!! There are loads of members on here…so if you have ANY questions…just ASK!!!

Hope you have loads of fun and all your answers answered here on BYC the BEST CHICKEN KEEPING FORUM on EARTH!!

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I have a problem.some if my girls have this barking cough.it started with one of my old girls and apparently is spreading to my others.franklin my rooster has it now.they still eat & drink & poop the same as always.i bought somethg called vetrx from tractor supply.it smelks somethg like vicks.it said to put it in their water & under their wings & on their feet.i did all that but its not working.it seems to be spreading.does anyone know wat it is or how I can help them.im in maine & we are buried in tons of snow & its very frigid out.my chicks are covered & have a hse with lots of hay & shavings to bed dwn in.so I dont kno wats going on.does anyone have any answers. Thank you
 

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