I have 4-5 month old production red hens. I want to add 3 or 4 same aged barred rock or Isa brown girls. Do I need to be care on mixing breeds? I want everyone to be happy
Yeah, that would be good. Ideally they should go into quarantine for a couple weeks before you put them in with the other chickens to make sure you aren't introducing new disease to a healthy flock. It would be wise to let them see/hear each other before being put together. I don't make a big deal of introducing new birds to the flock, but it is easier for me because I have roosters. You didn't mention any, so I assume you don't, but it should still go fine. Hope all goes well and you get some new birds soon!
How big is your coop and run? There will be pecking order issues: to be expected. Do you let them out to free range? If you can give the new girls a sectioned off space in the coop and run for a few days, then let them mingle in the run or free range, that might help them to get integrated. Better to get them integrated before they get much older.
The coop is for 6 to 8 chickens. I have 3 girls now so I think the space is good. Plus they are more or less free range-there is a very large fenced in area. I might just section some of it off. Thanks!
Numbers aren't matching? How big is coop in feet by feet? "The coop is for 6 to 8 chickens" is usually marketing misinformation on prefab coops, is why I ask. Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration This is good place to start reading: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock Consider biological/medical quarantine: BYC Medical Quarantine Article Poultry Biosecurity BYC 'medical quarantine' search
Oh I really don't know the dimensions. I will have to ask my husband. The coop said it was for 6-8 chickens. I currently have 6-3 girls and 3 boys. We only wanted girls so unfortunately the boys are going to be used for meat. We have about an acre and a half and when I am home they free range and when I am at work they have a very large penned in area. I am looking to get 3 or 4 more girls when they boys are gone.
This is often very misleading, I'd find out the real dimensions and do a little research before adding more birds. There's a good article on Space in my signature line.
I agree with Aart. The manufacturer almost always misrepresents the product he's selling. It shouldn't be too hard for you to go out with a tape measure and measure the coop and run. Without that information, it's impossible to give you any helpful information. Integration takes LOTS of extra space.
