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add together new chickens to your flock is fun and exciting , but it can also be nerve-wracking for all parties involved ! fare learn how tocarefully and graduallyintroduce Modern chickens to your existing spate for the most smooth and safe transition possible .
Before bestow home novel chicken , it ’s authoritative to have a plan in situation – along with any necessary supplies like supererogatory fence , extra food and water container , or even a temporary chicken coop .
This post will handle the best practices to present chicks , young pullets or grownup chicken to a batch , including frequently demand questions abouttiming , old age , feedinga mixed flock , dealing withbullies , and more .
What is “The Pecking Order”?
Chickens can be meanspirited girls ! They are extremely territorial , and can regrettably be pretty darn agressive towards each other at fourth dimension . Flocks develop asocial hierarchycalled “ the pecking order ” , which is literallyenforced through peckingat one another .
The rife top hen keep the lower one in check and get their first choice at the feeder , roosts , nesting boxes , and spouse . wimp also tend to pick on sick or weak appendage of the flock . particularly if they see bloodline , volaille can cover to pick to the point of cannibalism .
introduce new chickens to the flock cut off the pecking order , leaving the new and small membersvulnerable to attacksby the older dominant bird as they found a raw social parliamentary law . Therefore , the integrating must be done tardily , carefully , and with patience !
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What age to introduce new chicks to a flock?
Never introduce newfangled chicks young than8 weeksto an adult flock . They ’re far too low and vulnerable to safely hold up an attack from a large biddy , which could ferment venomous . Plus , chicks under 8 calendar week old are not yet full feather so it may be too cold for them to last to the full outside with the others , nor would they be safe to free reach .
If possible , wait until the young ones are at least10 to 12 weeksold . The bigger , the in effect ! The nearer to the same size of it all the chickens are at the fourth dimension of integration , the safe the new single will be .
When we had a smaller coop and tally , we would integrate new chicks into our great deal around 8 weeks . Now in our larger quad , we are n’t rushing it . Our current chicks are 12 workweek old . They intermingle with the adult hen for a few hours a Clarence Day , but still sleep in their own cage and stay inside the fully enclosed run while the big girl free range in the exposed Gallus gallus yard .
Can I add just one chicken to a flock?
If you could avoid it , do n’t introduce just one new poulet to an subsist flock . Even after a gradual introduction , it ’s almost guarantee they ’ll besingled out and excessively pluck on . Instead , add at least a few newbies of the same size at a sentence . That way , they ’ll have their own piffling clique to chum up around with .
The few exception where only one bird may be accept are : 1 ) if the newfangled and existing chickens are very young and a like age ( under 16 weeks old ) or 2 ) you chance to have just a couple former , very gentle birds .
Also ward off supply asecond roosterto your flock , unless you have an fair to middling hen - to - cock ratio of at least 10 to 12 hens for every cock . With very large or teachable breeds , it may be potential to have one rooster for every 5 to 7 hens . One rooster will emerge as the dominant alpha .
Before Introductions: Look Don’t Touch
Whether you ’re innovate new chicks , pullets , or grownup chickens to your pot , it ’s always skillful to carry out the “ look but do n’t come to ” method acting – where the two groupscan see each other through fencing but not physically access one another – forat leasta week or two before letting them co - mingle . The longer , the right ! To do so , firmly argue off a section of your chicken test or create a disjoined adjacent cage or playpen .
This give the old chickens prison term to get used to the presence of the newer ones without risk of injury , while letting the starter get used to their new space in a tenseness - free manner .
Quarantiningnew chickens that came from another farm or home ( vs chicks you conjure up yourself ) is also an important time to monitor andassess their healthbefore introduction , include disease or parasites .
Space and Resources
Before adding to your flock , ensure there is plenty ofroosting spaceand way to move around in both thecoop and rill . Bullying will be much more acute in confined , crowded arena .
It ’s best practice to provide at least3 to 4 square feet per chicken in the cage , 8 to 12 inches of roost space per bird , and no less than 10 square metrical foot per chicken in the run . offer up gratis - orbit of an even larger blank during the daytime ( if dependable ) is idealistic !
Chickens will compete for resources . Addadditional solid food and watercontainers to reduce competition and stress . Also plan to have at least one nesting corner for every four hens ( even though they all normally favor and crowd the same ones ) . You may want to create an additional junk bath outer space too . Learnhow to make a dust bath for chickenshere .
Tips for Introduction Time
How long does it take for chickens to accept newcomers?
Most chickens should adjust to new flock members withina duet workweek . They’ll eventually all become accustomed to one another , but may continue to pal around with their original grouping the most .
The layer of hostility and clip required to get settle will vary from spate to flock , depend on the historic period and number of chickens involve , amount of distance in the coop and run , and innocent ambit situation . Some origination are surprisingly politic ( especially when the new or younger snort outnumber the quondam ones ) , while others can be a tad more hectic . See tips about how to deal with a relentless roughneck chicken below .
Feeding a Mixed Flock
prey a assorted - age flock of wimp can feel perplexing . Young chick and adolescent pullets should not consume layer provender since the high grade of calcium is speculative for their kidneys . Yet laying hen need extra calcium for safely lay normal eggs !
Therefore , the received good word is to offergrower feedto a mixed flock of both lay hens and untried pullets ( and roosters).Grower feedis appropriate for chicks over 8 weeks old . To keep the quondam egg - lay hen healthy , also ensure there is a supply offree - selection calciumreadily useable ( in a bag disjoined from the provender ) . Crushed shell orflaked oyster shellsare both good sources of calcium for crybaby . check important tips aboutbaking eggshells for chickenshere .
Once all the chickens are of put down age ( around 18 week ) gradually transition tolayer provender . Continue to proffer free - choice calcium on the side .
How to Deal with a Bully Hen
Every once in a while , a dominant hen may have an especially difficult fourth dimension take newcomers . If one psychoneurotic little looney is harass others to the point of injury or nonstop accent , you may need to interpose . Particularly if the tough demeanor persists for week past the initial introduction .
And that’s how to safely introduce new chickens to a flock!
Well fellow chicken tenders , I hope this answer all your burn questions about adding to your flock . If you found this post useful , please consider apportion it or leave a scuttlebutt below ! Also feel free to share any helpful tips I may have drop , or take any questions you may have . Thank you for tune up in today . unspoiled of fate to you and your new niggling chicken friend !
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