Introducing more chickens to the flock

RichZ · Mar 25, 2002

We've done well with our chickens in the past year, thanks to advice from Boondox and other TBN'ers. We have a small egg business and supply eggs to the local health food store, as well as several private customers. We started with 26 baby chicks, and have only lost three in the past year.

Now we want to expand the egg business, and add another two dozen. We'll get baby chicks again. We'd like to have them in the same hen house that the others are in, there's plenty of room, and since we free range them, they're only in there at night. Is there any trick to introducing new chickens to the flock? Obviously the new ones have to be at least half grown before you introduce them. Will the existing ones attack them, or will they all keep to themselves? How do you keep the peace?

Thanks!!

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."

Boondox · Mar 25, 2002

Rich -- Adding to the flock was so frustrating we nearly stewed them all! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif The older, bigger birds pecked the newcomers mercilessly; we actually had to euthanize a couple of the smaller birds. After doing this for five years now, we've developed a system. When the newbies are about 2/3 full grown we move them to a chicken tractor (portable pen) near the coop where the adult birds live. Most of the adults quickly accept the new arrivals, and those that don't (i.e., those reprobates that wait outside the wire just waiting for a chance to peck the small girls) are culled by my wife and her 12ga Winchester. With the bad birds taken care of, we open the pen and let the flocks mix.

We still lose about 1/4 of our birds when combining flocks, but this way the losses take place among the older birds that aren't producing as many eggs as they used to. I was really shocked at how mean hens could be!

Pete

RichZ · Mar 26, 2002

Yikes!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I knew there would be problems, but I didn't know it would be that bad!!! Now I'll have to do some serious thinking about whether I still want to expand the flock!! I've been REAL lucky so far, because my chickens almost never fight, so I guess I've been spoiled.

Thanks for the info, Pete!

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."

JoeR · Mar 26, 2002

"The older, bigger birds pecked the newcomers mercilessly"

Talk about hen pecked!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Joe

Boondox · Mar 26, 2002

When are we gonna get together, Rich? Your life and mine seem to be running in parallel in many ways. It would be a gas to meet. You going to the Empire State Farm Days thing in August?

Pete

RichZ · Mar 26, 2002

Pete, I'm looking forward to getting together, too. I'll be at empire Farming Days in August. Among other things, I have to keep an eye on John Miller III, you never know what he might do!!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Maybe we can even get together before that. We planned it once, but dog things got in the way for me, which can easily happen to either of us!

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."

rancar · Mar 27, 2002

Rich,

You might want to chat with Dave Wilmot, Jr., lives on Belle Road. His parents started their chicken/egg business back in the 1950s I believe in the same manner you are progressing right now. Dave could likely give you some invaluable advice. Who knows, you may one day have an operation just like the Wilmots. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bob