Your Advice: Introducing New Chickens to an Existing Flock

[ChickenLiz87]

Still getting used to the site. Hopefully I'm posting this properly.

Just looking to ask some opinions from those more experienced than me.
I have 6 grown chickens and an equal number of 3 week old pullets. Once the pullets are grown enough, I'd like their addition to the coop to go smoothly.
My plan so far is to add a small enclosure to the existing coop run. Giving the chickens a chance to see each other without being able to get to each other.
Let me know what's worked best for you. Maybe I'm overthinking this and just need to let them figure it out. Thanks!

This group has been wonderful so far. I'm still learning. Everyone has been so kind and helpful!! I've felt very welcomed!

 

[Hopperkiller]

Did the same thing when i added grown chickens to my flock. When combined a pecking order was reestablished and they are now one flock. My rooster does get between the hens during skirmishes so no damage done. I have 2 roosting areas they still use but now they all use the same one. During the weather changes they may change roosts but do so as a unit.

 

[KentuckyJanet]

I sent my 7 little new ones to the big coop when they were 3 weeks old. Could see but not touch. They are now almost 6 weeks, they started out in a large dog crate now they have a temporary area with a small panic door using a 5 by 7in wooden picture frame that they can escape to when they need to. They are free to go wherever they want now. They tend to spend most of their time in the coop but could go outside whenever they want. They feel safest in the coop right now and seem very happy. The big girls come in when they are laying their eggs and when they roost at night. They definitely have gotten used to them and have accepted them pretty well. I assume that once the chicks start venturing more outside they may get picked on a little more until they get used to sharing their outdoor area, but I will keep adding hiding places. I definitely think the sooner you begin intergrating the better. So far so good for me.

 

[WickedChicksNH]

I had only 1 lady at the time I got my other 2, She is a NH red and was a year old, I got the 2 bantams, when they were ready to start going outside I would bring them into my screened gazebo with me, my big lady would be walking around outside and would see then little ones in the gazebo with me, they would meet each other through the screen,

After a few days they decided the would venture out under the screen and join my big lady, she liked to boss them around, booped their butts now and then didn't share treats, but after awhile that all changed.

They always came back under the screen if they were getting annoyed, she was very interested in them however.

I didn't introduce them to a whole flock though but so my only advice is slowly through a screen or them inside a coop and the others outside.

 

[aart]

I brood in the coop from 1 week after hatch, then integrate at 4 weeks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
but still follow these basics....
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.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock