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Eventually, the new chicken will become part of the flock and know its place in the pecking order. The size disparity resulting from bringing in new breeds might provide a different set of problems. However, if you live in a warmer climate, a small rabbit hutch inside your coop can work as transitional housing. Make sure snakes, rats, and mice cannot find their way inside the housing by making closing any holes larger than an inch wide.
Any infraction will be met with a swift peck to set the newcomer in its place. It could hold up to 6 weeks to restore the pecking order. However, docile chickens welcome newcomers more quickly, although this is not usually the case.
Step Four: Cage Door Open
You can encourage the chickens to leave their coop by spreading some feed in their pen, along with some freshwater. The strongest and most curious chickens of the flock will leave the coop first and explore. When you put your chickens in their new coop for the first time, you will notice that they will always stay in close range of their food and water resources. On a personal note I will never introduce new chickens to the older flock until they are at least 2/3 the size of the adult hens. However, this would be a situation to watch closely when they’re mingled.
While a keeper should strive to let nature run its course during introductions, no matter how hard it may be, you’ll need to intervene if there is any bloodshed. Physical introductions are the most challenging part of the introduction process. Introductions may need to happen a few times before they stick, especially if dealing with a territorial breed. If a chicken has an open wound, it will soon get pecked to death by the other hens, isolating it within a safe enclosure inside the run. Keep in mind when purchasing replacements that breeders often rear birds in pens of the same size and colour.
Introducing New Chickens to the Flock
Chickens live in flocks for a reason — having other birds around keeps them safe from predators and helps them find food. If you bring a new bird into their existing flock, the existing birds may view this as an intruder and try to chase it away. This can be dangerous for the new bird and stressful for everyone involved. It takes time for the chickens to accept each other and they should not be forced together. It is best to introduce new chickens when they are young, with an age difference of no more than 6 months. If you’ve purchased young pullets, don’t let them out until they are fully feathered .
So it all depends on your chickens, but I say go for it. If you are raising baby chicks you will be keeping them inside for a lot of this time anyway, so no need to isolate when they are full size. Raising chickens is an addictive hobby, I don't know anyone who was able to stay with just one or two hens. You may run into several different issues and problems when adding a variety of breeds to your flock. The most important reason is the possible difference in the sizes of the flock members. Larger breeds, as a rule, tend to be the most dominant in a flock.
Tips for Introducing New Chickens into the Flock
If you only have one batch of chicks, then it is best if you introduce only one or two at a time. There is no doubt that backyard chickens are tough animals that can... Unfortunately, quarantine didn't work for me 😟 I rescued a chicken who -now I know- was a carrier of MG. Carriers do not show symptoms but they can infect other members of the flock. So if you can test your new chickens before integrating them into your flock, that's even better. Put a member of your flock in isolation for a few days if they appear overly aggressive to the newest members.
This method reduces the chances of bullying as you don’t have to deal with territorial disputes. This way is very similar to your in-coop visual introduction stage. With the proper preparations and the right breed of chickens, many keepers have success with sleeping introductions on the first attempt. Using our favorite stealth method will save you from the headache of breaking up fights and the heartbreak of losing one of your feathered companions. It is a natural behaviour, developed over thousands of years of evolution and creates a functioning society that helps survival. Hens have learned to avoid predation by not fighting over their food which would otherwise draw attention.
The concept is that when the chickens wake up with a new chicken in the coop they just assume the new chicken is supposed to be there. Let your chickens meet for the first time when you are available to watch them. After isolating new chickens you still need to keep them separate from your flock.
From new spring chicks to adult birds who need a new home, many chicken farmers eventually introduce new birds to their flock. To reduce the amount of chaos between new and old feathery little family members, check out this guide to introducing new chickens to your flock. If possible, add chickens that are only comparable in size to the chickens in your current flock.
This can become vicious and new birds may be injured if they can’t escape. Another tip is to introduce the newcomers in the evening, when the other flock members are already settling down for the night. This will give your new chickens a chance to get used to the new living area and have a relatively peaceful first night in their new home. Let your chicks out the coop in the mornings and bring them back in at night.
If they end up hiding in the hen house, put food and water in there, so they have an opportunity to eat and drink. There are, however, several things we can when we introduce new chickens to make it easier for them. If you can, introduce your new chickens in pairs or small groups. A solo bird might end up completely isolating or taking the brunt of the bullying on its own. However, if they have another new chicken beside them—especially one they’re compatible with—it can make the transition easier.
You have probably heard horror stories about how new chicks are badly pecked and hurt by established flocks. Introducing new chickens to an existing flock can be a daunting prospect. It’s very exciting to be bringing chickens home for the first time. Still, there are many things to consider before actually putting those birds in your coop. However, if you’ve purchased matured chickens (aged 1 year old +) you will find they start laying sooner. You might be surprised at what chickens can get into in short amounts of time, especially if they are flighty birds.
Before you put all the chickens in the new pen, make sure there is enough space for all the birds. It’s also a good idea to add a few hiding places for any picked on birds to escape. When adding new chickens to your flock, try not to do it solo. Instead, add more than one so that fights and bullying from the current pack will be distributed among them. To avoid this, be sure to provide enough food and water for everyone. This will help the chickens to feel more comfortable and less likely to fight.
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