Over the years, as I have added to my own backyard flock of egg-laying hens, I’ve developed a system that I am happy to say has resulted in an easy transition every time I have gotten new birds. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you find yourself needing to physically move chickens from one coop to the other, plan on doing so at night. However, if you are prepared, and know the proper steps to take beforehand, then the integration will go more smoothly.
This step can prove to be a nervous and exciting one—the official physical introduction of the two flocks in the hopes of migrating them into one. You can acheive this in multiple ways, but I chose to take the route of a dog crate.
Everyone has heard of the phrase ‘hen pecked’ or ‘pecking order’, well this comes from the order within a flock of hens and every hen knows her place so when introducing new chickens there can be problems until the pecking order is re-established again. Weekly Bible Verse: James 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. Make sure the new chickens are a similar size and age as the rest of the flock, or else more dominant birds may bully them. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This isn’t always possible though. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can learn more about the pecking order here which also contains a short video demonstrating it in action. Keep in mind, the longer the quarantine, the safer everyone will be in the end.
It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Every hen has their place. She will be the one to integrate them with the flock, and in most cases, the flock will see them as their own. 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. Click here or on the image to view it on Amazon. Finally, make sure that during the time of quarantine that you are diligent in washing your hands in-between caring for each flock. When you introduce new chicks to an existing flock, pecking will happen. The more you step in and try to stop it, the longer it will take to establish flock order. I once tried to integrate three hens into a flock of twenty. Once they are feathered and grown, you can proceed to follows the steps above, eliminating the mentioned quarantine time. This fact is especially true when your flock members experience change, such as new members being added to the flock. If not, then adding onto your existing coop will be a must. How to Integrate Baby Chickens into the Flock. If you find the tussling is lasting longer than it should, or that it is becoming more and more aggressive, you will need to re-separate the flock members and try to integrate them with one another the next day. When your existing flock has gone to roost at the end of the day, you will then place the new members in the coop, even on the roost, with the other members. Of course!
This will give them the ability to not only gain strength but make them healthy before the big introductions are made. Before you put all the chickens in the new pen, make sure there is enough space for all the birds. Originally posted on 4/20/13. This is perfectly normal and is a necessary step when successfully introducing new chickens. It would be best if you allow your existing flock a period where they can see the new members, but not be able actually to touch them. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This article has been viewed 79,883 times. © 2020 - Hello Homestead. Can they run off and get away from an attack?
It may take 4-5 times for your new chickens to feel comfortable with the rest of the flock. The main idea to remember when you are introducing new members of the flock is that there will be a time period needed for them to establish their pecking order. They already know each other and will hang out together until they are accepted into the established flock. Distract the chickens with treats so you can break up any fights before they even happen.
After a few minutes, allow your existing flock member out of their coop, permitting them to mingle with the new kids and the groups free range together. Start by keeping your new chickens separated from the flock and slowly introduce them over time. I researched everything I could on chickens and keeping a flock for six months before I purchased my first six chicks. It doesn’t matter if you raise your chickens in a pen or free-range. Make sure you quarantine the new girl, just in case.
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. The most absorbent bedding is wood shavings which benefits your flock. Everyone must know their place in the pecking order, and it is vital for the flock to co-exist. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. The Ultimate Quail Feed Guide, were still establishing their pecking order, each breed reacts to new chickens differently, How to Train Chickens to Return to Their Coop, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/caring-for-old-chickens/, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-reasons-why-your-chickens-stopped-laying-eggs/, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/the-pecking-order/, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-bullying/, Backyard Chickens: A Practical Handbook to Raising Chickens.
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