![]() ![]() When we do let the new hens out to free range, they know to go right back to the coop if they feel threatened. This gives them time to acclimate to their new home and recognize the hen house as a safe place. We generally don’t let new chickens out to free range until they’ve been in the coop for at least two weeks. This step allows all the birds to mingle in a place where they have plenty of space to get away from each other if they need, and lots of distractions to keep them from picking on each other too much. When step two is complete and the birds are all comfortable with each others presence, it’s time to let them free range together. It’s better to take these steps more slowly than to rush through them. If there is still a lot of pecking going on through the cage, keep them in there for a few more days. If it seems everyone is getting along well after seven days, move onto step three. Eventually your old chickens I will mostly ignore the new birds in the cage. ![]() The pecking and general interest in the new girls should fade day by day. Keep the new flock members inside the cage for the first 7-14 days. The old hens are showing the new girls that they’re at the bottom of the pecking order. There will be some pecking through the cage wires, and this is normal, natural, and completely fine. This will allow everyone to adjust to each other gradually without any risk of fighting or serious injuries. The existing flock members will come to investigate the new additions, but won’t be able to get too close. Placing the cage in a corner is a good idea, so only two walls of the cage are exposed to the rest of the flock. If you don’t have a cage, fence off a corner of the coop for the new birds, making sure they’re protected on all sides, as well as the top. The next step is to place the new birds in a large animal cage inside the coop. Still unsure whether you want to quarantine? Don’t miss this post from our friends at 104 Homestead on what could happen if you don’t! Step Two: Cage Inside of the Coop You don’t want to inadvertently pass on diseases or pests.Īfter the quarantine period is up and you’re absolutely sure your new flock members are perfectly healthy, you can begin introducing new chickens to the rest of the flock. A dog crate or large animal cage inside the house or garage will work well, or if you have a separate coop, all the better!īe sure to wash your hands thoroughly in between handling new birds and the rest of the flock. To quarantine new chickens, keep them in an isolated area where they aren’t sharing space with the existing flock. It’s well worth it to keep your new hens away from your older chickens during this time so your beloved older birds don’t get sick. I know this seems like a really long time, but many chickens don’t show signs of carrying illness for several weeks, and many pests like lice could take a week or more to hatch and show up on your chickens. Quarantine should last for at least 30 days. ![]() ![]() They’ll need to be examined daily to look for signs of mites and lice, as well as common poultry diseases. Quarantine is done to ensure that the new flock members aren’t bringing in diseases or pests to your flock. Step One: QuarantineĪll new members of the flock must be quarantined before being added to an established backyard flock. You can do this by adding on a large chicken run, building a separate pen, making a chicken tractor, or tearing down the old coop and building a new one.Įither way, you need to make sure that your chickens will have plenty of space, because these steps will only lead to flock harmony if your chickens aren’t stressed in a too-small coop. If you have a small coop for your current flock you’ll need to add some space before bringing home new chickens. Chickens on average need at least 3 square feet of coop space, but more is better. Introducing New Chickens to the Flockīefore you begin these steps, and in fact before you even bring home new baby chicks or mature birds, you need to make sure you have enough space in your existing coop for the number of chickens that will live there. We’ve used this method to introduce both new chicks and young birds to our older hens and it has been proven to be the best way to integrate. This strategy allows the birds to get used to each other gradually, so there’s less stress. Through much experimentation over the years, we’ve developed a great strategy for new flock integration. Whether you’re expecting a batch of new chicks or bringing home a few mature hens, it’s good to be prepared ahead of time and know the steps to introduce these new birds to your flock. The new flock will need to establish a new pecking order, which can be really tough for everyone involved. Introducing new chickens to an already established flock can be stressful for both the birds and you. ![]()
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