This can be as simple as building a small, fenced-in enclosure in the coop or outside run or even using an old playpen placed inside the coop. It may take 4-5 times for your new chickens to feel comfortable with the rest of the flock. It may seem cruel to us, but this is how chickens communicate. The introduction of strange new members to the flock can throw them off their routine a little. I have found it both rewarding and entertaining, and I wish I had done it years ago. She made her nest and created her clutch. If not, then adding onto your existing coop will be a must. It is worth mentioning that many birds are reared in pens with the same colour and type of bird. KnowYourChickens.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Tip: Wash your hands when you go between the current flock and the new chickens so you don’t accidentally spread any diseases. As a means of reference, find below the suggested time frames for each of the steps we have already gone over. This time frame will give sufficient time for you to monitor and access the newest members and to determine if they have an illness and to treat them. Last Updated: July 22, 2019 Your email address will not be published. Read these verses 8-10 8 But no man can tame the tongue. Start by keeping your new chickens separated from the flock and slowly introduce them over time. Introduce and Watch. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. For those of us with backyard chicken flocks, introducing new chickens into the mix can be tricky. It’s also a good idea to add a … 44 Beautiful DIY Chicken Coop Plans You Can Actually Build, Beginner’s Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens, Chicken Nesting Boxes 101 and 13 Best DIY Plans, The Definitive Guide to Chicken Tractors and 13 Free DIY Plans, 10 Breeds of Chicken That Will Lay Lots of Eggs for You, 7 Reasons Why Your Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Tip: If your flock keeps attacking the new chickens for several minutes at a time, separate the birds from one another and try reintroducing them into the run the next day. Everything You Should Know. If you’re raising free-range chickens, then you don’t need to worry about increasing the size of the run. This is the hierarchy among the group. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. When your existing flock ‘greet’ the new chickens you will find there will be some scraps and jostling as they establish the new pecking order. If I get two different flocks of young chickens about the same age, can I raise them together? How long will the pecking last? They go to their new home and for the first time in their lives, meet Buff Orpingtons who have never met anything other than a Buff Orpington before. When I get a new clutch of day-old chicks from a farm supply store or another farmer, I brood them far away from the mature flock. Chickens vs Guinea Hens: How to Choose Which to Raise, Can Chickens Swim? So, in total, you can expect the entire process to take 5-6 weeks from the day you bring your new chicks home, or they are hatched, to them becoming bona fide members of your existing flock. What is really interesting is the two flocks also return to their own lodgings at sundown at first. If you follow the two steps above and are lucky, you will only have to do this step once. The establishing of the order in the flock can be a hard scene to watch, but as long as it doesn’t turn bloody or deadly, let your flock work it out in their own time. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I want to say that I am able to resist their sweet little peeps and walk away empty-handed. Always let the new chickens explore the area first so they get used to the space. Wait until they are roosting in the dark and gently pick them up one at a time and carry them into their new digs. I’ve found that one night spent in a new location is all it takes to convince a chicken that is its new home. Disclosure. Don’t leave them unattended for too long. Keep in mind, the longer the quarantine, the safer everyone will be in the end. But just in case, do make sure you have your chicken first aid kit ready to go just in case things get out of hand and you end up with an injured bird. There is just something about the peeping of a baby chick that is irresistible. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. It may take 3-4 attempts to make the birds comfortable with one another. Being introduced into an already established flock can be very daunting for a solo chicky. Keep an eye. But in order to help the new chickens survive the bullying it is a good idea to add more chickens to your flock at once in order for them to sustain the amount of bullying one flock can do to new chickens. However, many will agree that by making sure that you do your due diligence and not try and rush the situation, the process has better odds of proceeding more smoothly. I would highly suggest that anyone considering keeping a flock that they give it a try. Understandably, the birds are shocked and will be aggressive towards the new birds who themselves are stressed at being moved from their own environment into a new place. Over thousands of years of evolution, hens have learned to avoid predation by not fighting over their food which would otherwise draw attention to themselves. This move seems to have work out well so far, and I am hoping it will make the last step of complete integration of my two flocks members go smoothly. Get up to let them out as soon as it’s light and make sure they can get into the house at night. When new chickens are added in, it disrupts this pecking order and this can cause some real problems — especially for the new additions — until a new pecking order and peace is restored. If birds have been mixed with other colour birds, they won’t find it so difficult to accept a different colour bird. When bringing your new members home, it is vital that they have either a coop separate from the rest of the flock or at least a large crate. But after several weeks, they start to mix it up with new and established flock members roosting happily and peacefully together between the two coops. Neither of them has an established territory and this can sometimes work well, especially if they have lots of space to stay away from one another at first. Larger breeds, as a rule, will always present as the more dominant of the flock. As long as the skirmishes remain just that, and do not seem to be causing any physical harm or damage, give them space and allow them to work it all out. It’s hard to watch but often after a week, sometimes a little longer, things suddenly click into place and the pecking order is re-established. Before you add new chickens to a flock, quarantine them for several weeks to make sure they don't spread any illnesses to the old flock. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. After a week or two of this, you can remove the enclosure and let them get to know each other better. Now, here we are three months later, and it is time to introduce the (not so) little ones to the remainder of my flock. Here are some tips and tricks that you should know: When you introduce the new members with your existing flock, if possible, relocate their shared coop or pen to a new area. But, so far, the other flock member seem to be doing well. Always add at least 2 chickens to your flock at a time so they aren’t as likely to get hurt. Then transition them into the coop with the older ones and monitor them closely for awhile to make sure they don't fight. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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