Re: Introducing new chickens

Martyn wrote:
> Knowing the dreadful state my three were in a year ago I want to be
> able to introduce the new ones without too much added trauma.
>
> Any suggestions please.
>
> Martyn

Keep them completely separate for at least a month to let them get
everything -- mind and body sorted out.
Your existing ones will be very much stronger and fitter and could simply
lay into them. They will also have collected up bugs from the wild birds
that the new ones will have no immunity against so with all the stress of
new outdoor life the old ones pose quite a threat in one way or another to
the new ones.
Once the new ones have started to adapt to their new life and got their feet
underneath them so to speak you can start by simply letting them out into a
shared space. This is best done when you move the old ones onto fresh
grazing so its new to all and there is plenty of interesting things to eat
and do --- not just the new chooks:~)) Giving all of them lots of weeds and
grubs to play with and scratch around with at this point is also good
distractions. The birds can each go back to their own houses until they
gradually meld into a single flock. This usually happens in a couple of
weeks but if not you should be able to simply move one lot into the bigger
house and shut the door on the temporary one
This may seem long winded and certainly folks have just dumped birds
together and got away with it.
A bit of time and care has its rewards

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk

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