New young hen to flock!

[Shawneeinwa]

Hello all, thank you in advance for your help.
I recently realized out of our 5 chicks we got at the end of march we had a rooster. I swapped him back to the friend I had got them from and I got a new (younger) hen. The problem is this little hen is significantly smaller than our other 4. The original 4 are roughly 16 weeks old, while the new chicken in approx 8 weeks I'm guessing, a large difference in size, and introducing a new 1 into existing 4. I hung out in the coop with them all and its clear they all (but one) want to chase her and gang up. For now I have divided one of the coop rooms with a clear screen divider so they are together but separated. They don't all have day access to the run with this setup, I am just alternating them back and forth.

My question is, how long should I expect to keep them this way? Out of our original 4 one of them couldn't care less about the new chicken, can I put the 2 of them together, and keep the bossy 3 separate? My thought are if the one takes to her now, and they start roosting together etc the new one will be accepted quicker?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Well you should have quarantined the new bird. Then one by one add an original flock member to the pullet's housing till they become friends.
A lone chicken inserted into an established flock is always a problem - especially when it is a younger bird.
Flock dynamics mean that any interlopers must be driven off for the health of the flock.
They don't become hens and roosters till they are a year of age.

 

[Shawneeinwa]

Well you should have quarantined the new bird. Then one by one add an original flock member to the pullet's housing till they become friends.
A lone chicken inserted into an established flock is always a problem - especially when it is a younger bird.
Flock dynamics mean that any interlopers must be driven off for the health of the flock.
They don't become hens and roosters till they are a year of age.

Ok, thank you. That makes sense. I did think of doing a complete quarantine, but then I figured since they all came from the same Farm it would be okay. How long do you think I should wait until picking a older one to house with the young one?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You can pick one now. Pick your most expendable chicken but since didn't quarantine initially, it is a moot point.

 

[MarcyG]

Well you should have quarantined the new bird. Then one by one add an original flock member to the pullet's housing till they become friends.
A lone chicken inserted into an established flock is always a problem - especially when it is a younger bird.
Flock dynamics mean that any interlopers must be driven off for the health of the flock.
They don't become hens and roosters till they are a year of age.

Can you suggest a reasonable time for quarantining newly acquired 8 wk old pullets from my main flock of 3 adult hens? Sorry if this is a dumb question -- does quarantine mean they are *not* visible or in the same run w/ the main flock (even if they're in a separation pen)? Or does quarantine mean just separating them, AND they CAN be visible to each other in the main run?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Since many viruses and bacterium can travel in the air up to a quarter mile or more. Quarantine should be as far from your birds as possible and for as long as possible.
Quarantine comes from the 14th century Italian word meaning 40 days.
https://extension.umd.edu/learn/best-practices-animal-quarantine

 

[MarcyG]

Since many viruses and bacterium can travel in the air up to a quarter mile or more. Quarantine should be as far from your birds as possible and for as long as possible.
Quarantine comes from the 14th century Italian word meaning 40 days.
https://extension.umd.edu/learn/best-practices-animal-quarantine

Thank you very much! That makes total sense.
My current dilemma is that I have no smaller coop (or space/structure to put the new pullets into, and having them in the house is not an option. I think the nighttime temps are too cold lately (approx 40-50 degrees F) to keep them outside, ...and their holding pen is simply a foldable large dog crate that we'll cover up as needed. I was thinking of placing it *inside* the main run where the 3 older hens are, and that way it is 100% secured.

Hmmm, I can see that the scenario I've planned is not a quarantine in the true sense of the word...but merely a separation. I'm hoping there's some way I can make it work.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Probably the majority of poultry keepers are in your situation. In the classes I teach, I advise people to plan in advance for an additional housing option even if it is just a garage or basement. Eventually, another option will be needed whether that be for illness quarantine, new bird quarantine, injured birds, broody hens, etc.. When any of these occasions arise, it is usually too late to make those arrangements.
A small additional coop, as far away from the current housing is the best option.
Since you didn't quarantine initially, it is a moot point. Usually birds get used to each other better when free ranging. Conflicts are more common when confined.
Try putting the least aggressive of your older chicks with the new chick and let them beccome friends before further integration.

 

[MarcyG]

Probably the majority of poultry keepers are in your situation. In the classes I teach, I advise people to plan in advance for an additional housing option even if it is just a garage or basement. Eventually, another option will be needed whether that be for illness quarantine, new bird quarantine, injured birds, broody hens, etc.. When any of these occasions arise, it is usually too late to make those arrangements.
A small additional coop, as far away from the current housing is the best option.
Since you didn't quarantine initially, it is a moot point. Usually birds get used to each other better when free ranging. Conflicts are more common when confined.
Try putting the least aggressive of your older chicks with the new chick and let them become friends before further integration.

Thank you, ChickenCanoe! I really appreciate your insight on this!
BTW, We have *not yet* brought our 2 new pullets home ... possibly before the end of THIS week.
That will give us time to piece together some sort of temporary quarantine coop in our large shed (currently jam-packed w/ stuff). We'll be clearing some room in there today. It is about 25' away from the main coop, and once the doors are opened for daytime hours, the pullets will get plenty of daylight and some shade, and the older hens and the young pullets will have 'visibility' to each other, but from a distance. And at night, they'll be totally protected from any outside predators, as the shed can be locked.

Then, after 3-4 wks quarantining in the shed pen, I'm hoping that's enough time to then place the pullets *within* the main run, in their separation/enclosed pen, so they'll be closer to the older hens, and hopefully a bit more acclimated to each other's presence by then. Does this sound OK? Thank you again!