How to Introduce New Chickens to Your Flock 🐔🐔🐔
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Many of us know what it’s like. You start with a few chickens, thinking you’re just going to try it out, but once you realise what amazing pets they are and what delicious eggs they lay you will probably soon think it’s time to expand the flock and get some more hens for your garden.
But adding new chickens to an existing flock is easier said than done, and it’s important to know what you’re doing to avoid bickering and bullying, or even worse.
The key to introducing chickens is time (and knowledge!) Be patient, it might take a while before your new individuals are living happily with your current flock, but it will be worth it in the end. Each breed of chicken is different, and all chickens have different personalities, so how well your attempts will go depends on many different factors. Here are some useful things to think about:
Think About Age & Numbers
Some people say sticking to the same breed is a good idea, but it’s definitely possible to have several different breeds living side by side. If possible, add chickens that are of similar age and size as your existing ones. This is very important. The best time to add new birds in with your laying flock is when they are point of lay (pullets very soon to lay eggs) If they are commercial hybrids like brown shavers or hyline browns then this will be from 18+ weeks of age. Make sure they are all on the same feed (ie layer feed) and that you are adding in similar numbers to similar numbers.
Smaller, younger pullets/hens will easily become a target if added to a group of larger chickens, and new younger, bigger, fitter chickens might cause stress for the older members of your current flock.
Never add chicks to a group until they are mature and strong enough to fight back if someone decides to bully them. Also be mindful that chicks should be on a chick crumble or grower feed and not eating layer feed due to the added calcium. Also never introduce a chicken on her own; she is bound to become bullied in an already established pecking order. The more chickens you add, the more the pecking order will have to change, and it will be easier for the group to decide who is actually the most dominant. If possible, adding more chickens than you already have will often minimise problems with bullying, but it’s a risky game if you plan on expanding your flock more than once! Don't forget merging will cause stress with the group and layers that have been laying will most likely stop until everyone settles into their new pecking order.
Quarantine | Always a Sensible Move!
The first step in the process is to quarantine the new chickens somewhere away from your flock to make sure they don’t carry any diseases or parasites. Especially if you have purchased these from a local backyard poultry keeper. Do regular health checks on the new chickens while you’re keeping them separate, and treat any illness you might come across. It might be worth doing a worming treatment and adding some Appletons De-Mite Powder into their dust bowl to be extra sure they are not bringing in any parasites into your coop. A few drops of pour-on drench will help kill any external parasites like lice and mites that suck on the bird and most internal parasites like worms. Quarantine the new birds for at least a week, preferably longer, or until you’re certain they are happy and healthy.
Scaly leg mite is the mite to watch out for as it is highly contagious and will spread quietly through your existing flock. Thoroughly check your birds legs - especially legs of older, mature birds and treat with our Scaly Leg Spray for a couple of weeks.
First Encounters
Unfortunately you can’t just plonk the new chickens down with the old ones as soon as you’re sure they are healthy. Instead you must allow them to get used to each other. Ideally this is done by placing the two groups close enough to each other that they can see and smell each other, but not close enough that they can touch. They will hopefully be curious of the other group, but not feel that their home is being invaded. The partitions for the Omlet Walk in run is perfect for this stage, as it means you can divide the run and slowly introduce the two groups.
If you do not have an Omlet Walk-In run with a partition then some Omlet chicken fencing would work very well to keep the two groups apart. They can see each other just not intermingle. Keep this setup for at least a week or until they are of a similar age/size. It may seem like they have gotten used to each other after a few days, but for chickens there’s a big difference between seeing some hens over the fence and actually sharing a coop and run with them. Be patient, then you’re more likely to succeed.
The Omlet Peck Toy keeps them hentertained!
The Omlet Caddi holds favourite leafy treats.
Busy Hens are Happy HensThe Merge
When you think it’s time for the two groups to meet for real, it is best done in a new, neutral area that no chicken has claimed as her own, even if it’s just a small fenced off area in the garden.
It’s always best to let the old flock come to the new, so put them down first before you let your existing flock approach. This is especially important if you’re carrying out the introduction in the flock’s current run: don’t let them out of the coop until the new chickens are comfortable on the run.
Try putting up some entertaining distractions that might avert their attention somewhat. Fill a Peck Toy or a Caddi with your chickens’ favourite treat, and they will hopefully be more interested in that than the newcomers. Give them a Poultry Pecker to keep them occupied or put down some hay for them to scratch around.
Poultry Peckers are full of lots of healthy goodies and are a good distraction.
Adding Newbies at Night?
Another thing worth trying is introducing chickens in the night when they are quietly roosting in their coop. Open the door of the Eglu and put the new chickens in with your existing ones. This allows them to get used to the presence and the smell of the new chickens while they are sleepy and not likely to attack. This seems to work really well for some, whereas it leads to a few problems for others, so it’s up to you if you want to risk it.
Make sure you are there in the morning when the chickens wake up to see how they are reacting to their new friends. As we said, it might take a while before the 'merged' flock goes back to its harmonious self.
Observe and Identify
You must prepare yourself for some disagreement and a bit of bullying, this is part of establishing the pecking order. It should however have calmed down after a few days, maybe a week. If you notice that chickens are getting seriously hurt or are drawing blood it’s time to step in. Identify the main bully and isolate her somewhere else for a few days on her own. It might seem harsh, but it’s the best thing you can do for your flock. When you put her back with the group she will be too busy trying to figure out the new order that she won’t have time to bully.
So in total you are looking at around 5-6 weeks from getting your new chickens home to fully integrating them into your existing flock.
Appletons 8 Tips for Merging New with Existing Hens
1 🐔
Same Size & Maturity Matters
Try to only introduce chickens which are a similar size to your existing flock.
The best time to add your new brown shaver pullets in with your existing flock is when they are 18+ weeks. Do not add birds younger than 18 weeks in with current laying hens.
2 🐔
Add Equal Numbers +
Add equal numbers. Never be tempted to add just one single chicken. Instead introduce equal numbers or more so the jostling/bullying from the existing pack is spread between them.
3 🐔
Neighbours First
You need a period of time where your existing flock can see the new chickens but can’t ‘touch’ them. The easiest way to achieve this is to place the new chickens in their own pen which is placed next to the existing pen.
4 🐔
Neutral Turf
If possible when you introduce the new chickens, move the existing coop and run to a new area so the existing chickens and the new chickens are starting with a new piece of land. Other options would be add the old flock to the newbies.
5 🐔
Add Extra Feed & Water Containers
To dissipate the bullying have two water and feeding stations so everyone gets a chance to eat and drink.
6 🐔
Isolate Aggressive Birds
If you notice one chicken in particular is being overly aggressive to the newcomers, place the aggressive chicken in isolation for a few days to put her in check. Also consider bumpa bits to alleviate pecking.
7 🐔
Keep Them Busy
Keep them hentertained and occupied. Lots of space and activities. Avoid small runs and corners. Distract with treats and scratch.
8 🐔
Be Patient 😊
Most of all be patient and not too precious. Chickens can be cruel to each other. It will take 5 to 6 weeks for everyone to fully integrate. Laying can cease until everyone is settled.
