Today I am officially introducing the chicks to my existing flock. It’s not always easy to integrate new members. Hens can be mean and aggressive, and they want to make sure the new members understand who is boss in the established pecking order. The chicks are still too small and will not be able to defend themselves. Beside the issue of aggression and injuries, it is important to keep new flocks separate as a quarantine measure. The following are some peace-making tips to help introduce new chickens to the flock.
- Do not integrate smaller chickens, wait until they have grown to have them under the same coop. I have a small temporary coop where I keep the chicks as they grow.
- Before allowing the chicks to free range, keep them in a run or cage/pen where the other chickens can observe them and get used to their presence.
- Make sure to have more than one feeder and waterer.
- Introduce birds into the chicken house at night when it is dark but make sure you are there at day break so they don’t get pecked to death in the morning.
