So, you got a few pullets for eggs. They have grown up and are outside living happy, cute chicken lives. And now, chicken math has set in and you have another bundle of chicks inside brooding that you either hatched or bought.
Now comes the hard (sorta) part; introducing new chickens to the flock.
How are you going to integrate your new little cute fluffy bundles with your happy flock? If you purchased new chickens, make sure to quarantine them before integrating them.
For chickens hatched at home, here are our top 4 tips for introducing new chickens to the flock.
1) Make sure the new chicks are big enough
There will be some level of pecking from your existing flock to your new chicks. This is normal behavior and not a cause for concern.
It is, after all, how we get the term “pecking order”.
Therefore, you want to be sure the new chicks are big enough to stand up for themselves and also big enough to not be hurt from a few pecks from your existing hens.
It won’t take long for their new flock order to be established and for everyone to go along with their chicken lives.
2) Let the existing flock look, but not touch
If you set up a pen for your new chicks where the existing flock can see them, but not peck them for a few weeks it will make the transition go smoother.
You could use a dog crate for the new chicks. Then put that in with your existing flock. You could also set up a pen in the coop.
Do this by sectioning part of the coop off with chicken wire or other fencing.
Or, for a less sturdy option, you can set up branches or other obstacles. This gives the chicks a place to run where the older hens cannot chase them.
We closed off a section of our hen-house with some leftover welded wire fencing. It kept everyone safe, separate, and happy until they were ready to combine.
Once a few weeks pass, you should be able to remove the crate, fencing or other obstacles. And everyone should act fairly normally.
3) Give everyone a fun distraction
Chickens get bored just like us. And in cases of integration, boredom can lead to excessive pecking.
So, your existing flock will be less likely to pick on the newbies if you give them something fun to do.
Perhaps putting up a head of cabbage on a tether for them to peck at all day.
Let them out to free range so they can all have their own space and lots of bugs.
Freeze some watermelon for them to peck at or make some flock blocks. If the existing flock is busy doing their own thing, the newbies will likely be able to integrate in more smoothly.
4) Integrate at night
Often times, if you sneak your new little ones into the coop and onto the roosts with your existing flock at night.
When everyone wakes up they assume the newbies were always in the flock and this will lead to much less pecking.
These are the four ways to make introducing new chickens to the flock much easier and smoother.
Do you have any tips we didn’t mention? Share them in the comment section below!
For more on raising chickens…
What if you only have one older hen left? Do you think the night thing will work with introducing like 5 pullets and young rooster?
Yes, I would think that it would likely work fine 🙂 I always just keep an eye on them to make sure no one is getting picked on too badly.
Doing the playpen method inside the coop. Just recently let ALL out together to forage. Pretty much the older hens ignored the younger ones, a little peck here and there. I haven’t put them together in the run or the roost, that’s step #2.
Glad that method has worked well! 🙂
Best,
Kristin
I have had my new chicks in with my old for a month separated inside and out and every time I try to put them together the older ones do not want any part of them being in the same space. i have lost sleepover it and that is all i think of all day long. I do not like the little ones being cooped up until i get home from work but i have no choice. maybe i am being to protective and I do not want to see the babies being pecked and chased at all. The big hens are 1 1/2 year old and spoiled rotten and the new chicks are 10 weeks old. I have 6 old and 8 new it is hard to keep track of them all between the coop and the out door space, so I am running back and forth trying to keep the peace. I can not beleive other people with larger farms take the time to stand over their flock for hours and days to make sure they are okay, I am totally stressing out over this. I want every one to be happy. What should I do????!!!!
There will always be some pecking so that they can establish their flock hierarchy. As long as the younger ones are not getting injured and have a place to run and get away, they usually do just fine. You’ll just need to let them out together and see how they are acting to see if you think they can be left alone 🙂
We have 6 chickens and 2 ducks. We rescued a 2 year old and they seemed to get on ok but recently the older chickens have pecked the new ones head until she is bald and quite weak. We have taken her out and put her in a small run next to the rest. We put her in a nice box every night and safe in a shed. She seems back to normal now, gained weight and is eating well. Can we let her back in. They all have a big run in a smsll orchard, low trees, a hen coup and duck house. Small pond, they are feed every day and have lots of dirt to grub around in. We dont want the new one to be pecked so badly again
Hi Ann,
I would try letting her in where the others can see but not peck. Perhaps in a covered dog crate with her own food and water for a few days. Then when you add her, do so at night – just put her on the roost with the others. And then watch them for the first few days to be sure she is not being picked on too badly.
Best,
Kristin
I am just starting out, I currently have no chicken but I am planning to get 6-8 chickens from the same farm. I also have a friend that wants to give me 2-4 ducks, 2 Indian runners and possibly 2 Peking ducks. They would be coming from 2 different places the chickens and ducks. Because my coop would new to all the birds can I just put them all together at once or should I separate them? I don’t really have a 2nd coop but I do plan on letting them out in the day to free range. Any help would be appreciated!
Hi Barbara,
Best case scenario if they are coming from different places would be to quarantine in case stress brings out any issues in either set. However, if it’s not possible and they are similar ages, they will probably do ok.
Love your ideas! We have three 2yr old hens and got two new chicks this year. We have them in a cage at night. Our girls have a nice, big run. We put up a short fence to divide it in half. Part of the time, the chicks are separated from the hens and the other time, we open up the divider. The hens will ignore them but sometimes go after them. They’ve pecked and plucked feathers, sometimes cornering them. Is that normal pecking order behavior or is that more aggressive? We have been reluctant to let them loose in the coop at night with the hens. What do you think?
Yes, some pecking is going to be normal as they establish the flocks new “pecking order”. As long as there is not a huge size difference, the new chicks should be OK. We always just keep an eye and make sure none are getting pecked too much – if they draw blood, they will really go after them so make sure they don’t do that for sure. Otherwise, it is a normal thing they will have to go through 🙂