[RobH]

Hi all, I looking for some advice. I have currently have 3 bantams and would like to add another 3. Can anyone offer advice on how to introduce them? I’m guessing it’s going to be a bit of a risk just letting them run with the existing girls who now free range. We I got the first chickens i kept them in a run for the first few days before letting them free range but I’m going to struggle to do the same this time. Am i going to need another run? Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks in advance. Robert

[joyfull]

First of all you need to isolate the new girls so that there is no risk of infection. Then after a couple of weeks you can move them closer so that they are in full view of your existing girls. After a week or two of this one night move the new girls into the coup that the original girls use and pop them onto the perches. Make sure you get up early the following morning before they wake and open the coup up - this will help stop any fighting in the coup. There will still be arguements as the pecking order is established again but hopefully it won't be too bad.

[RobH]

Thanks.... it sounds like I am going to need a 2nd coop/run! Maybe I could rent it out for other to use in simular circumstances?!?

[joyfull]

Maybe you could but you would have to advertise it in the classifieds section rather than on here as selling isn't allowed on this bit (and it would be classed as selling as you would be selling a timescale of the coup) 

[wardy]

Hi,
When I got a few new choocks i introduced them at night when  all the others were roosting and it was dark, I just popped them where the perches are and all was quiet, The next day wasn't too bad, i found it took a couple of weeks for things to settle and get the pecking order sorted,
Good luck.

[RobH]

I would see it as chicken coop timeshare!

I guess there is a risk of infection if you introduce them too quickly

[joyfull]

yes so a couple of weeks in view but separate is best.

[beulah59]

I do my introductions the other way ... separate for a while, then free ranging together before sleeping together .. has worked well so far.