Introducing New CHICKENS To Our Existing Flock (Using Two Methods)

How do you introduce new chickens to your flock? In this video we introduce our new flock to our existing flock using two methods. Come and watch and see how it goes!
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Welcome to Acres of Adventure Homestead!
New Homesteaders
Family of 5
10 Chickens. 2 Dogs. 1 Cat
Building our Homestead Adventure
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[@jamiewhitehead7791]

We used your roosting bar design while we were in the middle of building our own chicken coop. It helped to maintain the ability to clean out there coop without going around legs and such.

[@kathleenkopylec3270]

Those 3 chickens went to your deck because of the light, that's how I train my young ones to go to the coop at night with a light.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

I thought that the light probably had something to do with it, thank you!

[@karenbruce247]

Really like your videos! We hav e 4 hens (had 6, but a fox killed 2). So, now we are going to get 4 more chicks and hopefully have a happy larger flock. Kind of dreading the whole thing, but absolutely appreciate seeing how it went for you. Thanks!

[@fancyonfourteen]

Good ole fashion pecking order lol. We see it all the time here haha

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Pecking order is how nature works, it’s very cool too see! Also your food videos have been making us very hungry every time we watch them over here! Thank you for watching as always!

[@lonelypatriot9334]

All we have ever done in our family is after dark when the the older chickens have roosted you insert the new ones on to the roost. It has always worked well. You do have to have the space inside and in the run. Never had any drama using this method. I can remember helping my grandmother doing this when i was four or five and that was 60 years ago.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

It is a better way to just do it that way!

[@kimhoffman1071]

Buffs seem to go broody alot

[@sherripeck1300]

I tried this method this weekend. They are doing ok but there is some chasing and pecking. I went up to close the coop last night and all of the new chickens were huddled in a corner because the older hens would not let them on the roosts. What do you suggest?

[@lonelypatriot9334]

It has been my experience that they will be on the roost in a short time. probably less than a week. There will be a pecking order being established but they are just learning there place in the new flock. @@sherripeck1300

[@learningtogrowinChrist]

Give them more ways to roost. I have lots of places for our chickens to roost. I have 19 hens, 1 rooster and 1 turkey (raised as a chicken). We have 10 astralorps that are 8 weeks that I'll transition in hopefully at 12 weeks. Then 5 chicks we hatched in a incubator. We're getting the hang of things

[@TEABRACELETS]

I’m adding two one year olds in with my 5 or 6 month pullets and we just added a bigger run to our coop. My current pullets are pretty tame and they like being pet and and held and they are really good with my cat, my cat kind of guards and lays by them. He’s only really tried to attack them once, but never again, bc they nipped his ear. If you are adding chickens to your flock and your anxious, put a crate in the run or coop so they get used to eachother.

[@despicabledavidshort3806]

I did this for a week on the outside by the coop and a few days on the inside. The first day she was out went fine. The second day just before dark the pulled her tail feathers out and her butt looks like hamburger. And now she's in the house healing in a ferret cage

[@BloomAlbumProv1128]

Do you have any videos or tips on how to introduce and injured chicken to the flock again?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

We just made a video of our chicken that was sick with mites and we had to separate her, maybe see if that helps!

[@BloomAlbumProv1128]

@@AcresOfAdventure thank you :) Love your videos btw very fun, educative, and funny. Ur daughter and chicks are sooo cute too.

[@jamesharrison6201]

The ones I would watch is the RI Reds

[@robinham2796]

I have done 3 sets of babies in two years. Even at 4 weeks I have had ZERO ISSUES!!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That’s awesome, I’m always scared to do so sense they are so small

[@robinham2796]

I don’t keep them with the existing flock thst young, but in the transition cage. By the time they are ready to roost with them, they are all used to one another!

[@catheriner1742]

Just added two one year olds with my spoiled 2 yr olds. Those girls are vicious! To make it worse, the new girls have had their beaks trimmed. I didnt see it until i got them home. Poor things are defenseless. I have been letting the mean girls out to roam so the new girls can get some peace. They pace back and forth even trying to intimidate from outside. Hope it gets better.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That’s no good! Some chickens are worse then others, has it gotten any better Catherine?

[@catheriner1742]

After 7 days of heavy rain from Ian, it had to. They spent alot of time in the coop and i made sure they had treats like warm oatmeal. They still aren't fully accepted but its better. Now that its clearing i will try letting them out together. I have a pretty big fenced in yard. I just hope they want to come back to the coop/run. The three i have were getting pretty tame, so im hoping that will help the new girls.

[@trulylynn9941]

I have 2 roosters that came together. I am letting the new ones into the main house today so they know they belong there. The red sext links can be mean but the roosters should take care of that...I hope!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Haha got to love those sassy hens. Hopefully they blend nicely together!

[@lsaez479]

Our younger chicks won't go in the coop and we have to collect them off the top of the run.

[@WreckerGirl-ec2sc]

I live in Michigan toooo. New sub

[@ElocinAlways]

Hi. Hope you read this. We are integrating our 3rd bunch. 8 babies, 5 were roo, in no roo zone. Down to 3. Added 4 pullet, 1 was roo. Returned him, got 2 young hens/pullet (1 silke mix is still feathering out) its harder this time, 6 against 2. But my question is, HOW BIG IS YOUR COOP? I think we need to build bigger. We've Rhode island Dom hen, and a silke bully. Lots of sizes... cream crested, Rhode island, and silkies. Boy, silkies can cop attitude!

[@bsharma3728]

I just shift the old in new place and at that new place introduce the new flock ,,, they just adjust quickly

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Most of the time animals will figure it out, they just need to learn pecking order

[@robinham2796]

What feed do you use and the watering method! Awesome!!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Henhouse reserve and we are putting in a new rain water collection system this spring!

[@aimeemaurer4862]

I hear stories about 1 month seperate quarantine required. I can’t really do that, and I don’t think the chickens would then go into the main shared coop. Will my older girls be ok if I add new girls? I have age 9,7,6.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Once you feel confident in your chickens size against the other flock you can try adding them at night to merge the flocks. We have been a bit more reserved with it and waited until our younger flock was pretty big but we have seen people added when the chicks were smaller. Really depends on your chickens temperaments.

[@freeofusmartinez5199]

Please help I did everything I have 8 chickens varying 20-25 weeks old and I’m trying to add my 18 week old chickens. I’ve put the younger chickens near the older chickens chicken run so they can see each other. for over 5 weeks. and every time I try to finally have them interact the chickens just keep chasing the younger ones and pecking off feathers. the younger chickens have feathers missing and legs are bleeding. The problem is though that they don’t run away when they get pecked on they just find a corner and hunch down and just stay there while getting pecked on. I tried removing the ones that bully the most but that didn’t work. I also tried adding them at night in their coop and that didn’t work. What should I do.

[@WreckerGirl-ec2sc]

You can never just add 1 cause it will get beat up!!! I have always added a few when the time comes

[@whoknowswho7494]

How old are the new hens?

[@kayingyang6252]

Lat comments but their going back to the spot they where at chicken tractor.

[@MathewsMsiska]

Wht breed do u keep

[@kelliray4247]

please get a rooster

[@cericson3426]

The way my grandfather used to do it always seemed to work he'd just walk up to the pen with an armful of new chickens and tossed them in, usually in a few days the pecking order got sorted out.

[@aliciaspears7847]

This made me laugh so hard ! Like being tossed in the pool to learn how to swim. Ah, the good old days

[@trdi]

Very smooth. That looks to me like one of the most uncomfortable roosting bars, though. They prefer flat surface, they need width. The problems they have to stabilize on that bar is nothing like I have ever seen before. They will not sleep well on that.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you so much for this, we have heard this and I have had it on my list to do’s but that list just keeps growing…but it’s nice to hear this confirmed by people. Thanks again we hope to get to that in the next week or two.

[@Ann10999]

I have two small coops 6 older in one and 4 young in the other hopefully one day can put them together , but I don’t have roost bars but just have a plat form and they huddle up together at night hopefully it keeps them warmer this winter , but don’t if that best or if I should make roost bars , but my coop is small so not sure wht do on that note , I’m trying to learn as I go , 🤷‍♀️ didn’t kn there was so much to learn about having children 😂

[@chopsjazz1]

We use 2" diameter landscaping stakes. The girls do just fine with those.

[@jamiewhitehead7791]

We love your chicken tractor as a transitional coop.

[@danthiesen4778]

I will be trying to bring my old flock of 59 and my new flock of 66 together and try to build a new smaller coop for 11 of my new chickens and have all 66 to stay in the new coop until I can merge all of the chickens together. I will have a section fenced off so they can meet each other for maybe 1-2 weeks

[@lsaez479]

I have a hard time letting them peck . We have 3 or 4 who are bossy.

[@whoknowswho7494]

Sorry, when you introduced them.

[@bobschallalcs584]

you need to have your roust square or leveled or rounded how would you like to set on corner 8-12 hours a night I use 2x2 and round the corners or take a 5/4 cut in half round the cut corner and have worked out the best you need to get rid of square edge of your 2 x4 this will keep your chicken from getting cripple

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Yes I have had this on my list to do and plan on switching it out

[@tedtucker7516]

I used to have 3 but 1 died young so we got two more, we have 4 now

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Sorry to hear you lost one

[@jamiewhitehead7791]

Do you use any heat source during cold months?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

No we do not. We posted a video on that topic if you want to go back and watch

[@ruthannetalley4891]

Very helpful video. I'm getting ready to add 7 new girls to my existing 8 + 1 rooster. I've got a golden laced wyandotte and a couple of long island reds that might not take this too well. I hope my experience goes as well as yours. 🐓🐓

[@builditsquare]

We use 2 coops, one as a nursery for chicks and young hens. The nursery has its own fenced in yard. The regular coop allows the hens to free range on an acre. Pecking order I understand, but sometimes an older hen becomes a bully. During the day they all free range, but at night they sleep separately. A chicken that is bullied, learns to become one. In time they work it out and we keep the small coop for the next batch of chicks. Half of the time the chickens get along fine and the separation is not necessary. .

[@johngarrhet2235]

We've got 5 old farts out back, and we're introducing 8 newbies soon... They're one month and 4 days old as of writing this. When is the best age to be introducing them at?

[@trulylynn9941]

Buff Orpingtons are always broody and make good hatchers.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That’s good to hear, we hope to hatch out next year!

[@trulylynn9941]

@@AcresOfAdventure She will do it my friend!

[@trulylynn9941]

It's easy to place your news ones on the roost at night a few at a time and use the largest /meanest ones first. I also need another roosting board into my hen house. That is what I did and it worked. It took them a few days and they are fine now.

[@birdkelly1]

I’m willing to bet that I got my coop from the same guy you got yours.

[@NellieGirl]

Your hens are so happy. I love hearing happy hens sing.

[@Ali20143]

I can see one new rooster but is younger

[@iceeboi3515]

Hi I also have chicks 🐥 that in going to interagate into my flock do you have any good advice?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Just make sure they have been able to see each other a little before you do it, and also understand it will take a few days for them to adjust so there will be pecking order going on. Thank you for watching!

[@iceeboi3515]

Thx new subscriber!