Sussex Survivor - introducing 3 new, young hens to 1 existing hen

[Dew]

In an hour+ of reading/searching, haven't found enough of an answer, so am starting a new thread. Apologies in advance!
Researched & waited years for my girls & had been keeping for 4 yrs without incident. Chicks were raised to be pets/part of our family...until now:

• 1 Sussex survivor after fox on Friday night while someone was supposed to be chicken-sitting for us *sigh*. (4-yr-old, raised from chick, pet/docile, dominant & clever...but now lonely).
• Acquiring 3 buff-orps...1 has just started to lay, the other 2 are right behind her. (Do not know if exactly the same hatch, but coming from same farm so believe they are approx same age)
• Run is approx 80'x40', with extended Eglu as coop within run. Plan to partition off part of run for quarantine.

Initial thought is to use XL airline dog crate within quarantine run for new additions to roost at night. While the crate would be critter-proof, we do have black bears & I worry, slightly, that the crate with chickens inside might prove a play-toy.

How long would you keep these 3 new chickens in quarantine/separated? Given that existing hen is very lonely and they are younger (and orpingtons), am thinking it may not take much time. Hoping one-by-one, after a couple of weeks, to introduce them at night to surviving Sussex??

Thoughts & insight are greatly appreciated! Especially @Mrs. K -- you seem to have weighed in a bit on threads & have a lot of expertise!

Thank you all!

 

[Mrs. K]

Well that is not quarantine. They would be sharing an air space. However, a true quarantine is beyond most backyard keepers. It requires a huge space and changing clothes, excetra.

That being said, you are not risking much, and I would go ahead and add them if they look healthy.

I would really expect this to go pretty well, your original bird has home territory and age, +2, and the three new ones, -3. Combining that is close to zero, which makes for the best integrations, that and space.

What I would do is put your original bird in the cage, and the three new ones in the coop/run. This allows them to explore without a being chased and harassed. Keeps things relaxed. But late that afternoon I would let them out as close to roosting time as possible.

What I would expect to happen, is there to be a bit of bluster. Chest bumping, a few feathers flying and everyone going to roost. Do leave the pop up door open and get down there early the next morning.

Now if it doesn’t work, the next step would be to divide and conquer. Where as you put two new birds in the cage, and one of the new birds with your original bird. This will be one on one, and should settle in a couple of days, then combine the pairs.

Another way, to do a see know touch is to use the surrounding yard. Put a mixed pair, old and new, in the yard, the others in the coop.

 

[Dew]

THANK YOU @Mrs. K for taking the time to respond with a helpful, common-sense approach. I so appreciate it! Will take every bit of your advice. You've saved me a lot of time & potential headaches! I think Lulu (survivor) is definitely a strong enough hen to let the others know their place & am okay with a bit of grumbling & feather ruffling!

 

[Mrs. K]

Let me know how it goes.

 

[Dew]

Good Morning @Mrs. K - I ended up doing a hybrid of your suggestion(s) and all went really well, thank you!

I put 2 of the 3 orpington new girls (hatch-mates) together in a large wire dog kennel in the shade in the middle of the run. The third new orp hen was put out in the run with our lone survivor. There was chest-ruffling and a bit of hen-pecking by our existing Sussex, but both had plenty of room. I also put out an additional feed trough and waterer, so plenty of resources.

That evening, right before sunset, I let the two out of the dog crate. They mozied around & ultimately figured out how to use the ladder & settled into the coop with the other new one. Of course, as you said, there were a few 'discussions' in the coop, but all worked out just fine.

Our lone survivor is still at the fence line (which faces our house) during most of the day, lonely & wanting consummate attention, but at least, if she chooses, she now has friends. I'll leave the additional food & water out for a couple of weeks as everyone continues to acclimate.

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge! I appreciate it!

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh good, sometimes it goes pretty easy, and you think people make too much of this. Next time you try everything but standing on your head, and they won't get along.

But I think what you did worked well. I thought it might, because a few more head of new birds kind of equals out the older bird and home territory.

I can't remember if they are quite laying? Once they start, it will become one flock.