Try to add two more hens to my small flock, any ideas?

[Lisi77]

Dear all, I currently have two chickens, both 5 months old. I had them from eggs. Two lovely silkies, one boy and one girl. Both very cute! The boy is a little bit bossy! And we are planing to add two more hens to join them. My question is: I only have one chicken coop in the back garden, can I put the two new hens straightway into their coop (maybe after dark)? Or do I need to separate them first? for how long? Thank you for any suggestions, really appreciate!

 

[nuthatched]

Quarantine any new birds as far away from your birds as possible for at least a month. then at least two weeks seperated on either side of a fence.

 

[Lisi77]

Quarantine any new birds as far away from your birds as possible for at least a month. then at least two weeks seperated on either side of a fence.

thank you so much for the quick reply! so do i need to get another coop for the new ones at night?

 

[nuthatched]

thank you so much for the quick reply! so do i need to get another coop for the new ones at night?

You can if you want bu might want to set up something in a garage or shed but they shouldn't share the same yard as your birds until you verify their health.

 

[Tonyroo]

You can but quarantine requires you not have the new birds anywhere near your existing flock.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A good article on quarantine - https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/ If you plan on "cheating" this, then don't bother to quarantine at all as it's all or nothing. You should still plan on doing 1-2 weeks of see but no touch regardless of quarantine, in order to introduce the birds to each other.

 

[aart]

A good article on quarantine - https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/ If you plan on "cheating" this, then don't bother to quarantine at all as it's all or nothing. You should still plan on doing 1-2 weeks of see but no touch regardless of quarantine, in order to introduce the birds to each other.

Ditto Dat!!^^

Here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/