[Pepperpincushion]

I'm picking up  two new hens tomorrow to come and live with my current gang of four 

I know it's best to introduce them when the others have gone in to roost and are sleepy but as I will have to get them in the daytime, I'm wondering what's best to do with them until dusk.
I was thinking of putting them in a secure run (with a roof) in the garden. But. . my girls normally free range so will that be potentially dodgy as they will be able to go right up to the bars? Or will it help to get them aquainted  without actually being able to get at each other?

Alternatively I could put my own girls in another secure run for the few hours - though they will be cross! 

Anything else I should think about?

[Squibbs]

I'd think about quarantine. I've learned by bitter experience that even healthy looking hens bring nasties.   

I very reluctantly took on a friends chickens she could no longer keep a month ago with all my isolation areas full of chicks. They seem ok but it makes me nervous.

I only ever hatch my own now.

[Pepperpincushion]

I'm getting them from a local farm that was recommended to me by two separate people and they have been vaccinated (as have mine). I'm as confident as I can be about their background and quarantine isn't really an option as I only have one hen house.

[Pepperpincushion]

Any other thoughts? 

[3Bluebelles]

We have tried it 2 ways. The first time we introduced new ones we built them a new house to sleep in, kept them separate in a run next to the others so they could get used to each other for a week, then let them in together. It was bedlam, and really nasty. Took them over a month to stop fighting.

The 2nd time we put the new girls in the run when we brought them home, but shut the others in a different area for a few hours. We then put the new girls in the house when it started to get dark, then let the others in. They all trooped into the house without any reaction. In the morning when they all came out they looked really surprised to see the new girls! Although we did have some pecking and fighting, it was much less stressful, and took less than a week to sort out, with no blood loss.

I know they can bring in disease, but I think it's much less stressful (for chickens and humans!) to do it straight away.

All the best. Hope it works out for you.

[andy and deb]

your better off keeping your 4 hens locked in the pen and let the 2 new ones free range for a few hours on their own then let the others out to meet them at least while they are free ranging the new ones have a chance to run away from any bullying then lock them up in the coop at dusk and out early next morning and do the same again .. good luck

[needssomehelp]

leave em too it!  i just put them together and walk away, (i hate watching them squabble) i check back every 15 minutes or so to make sure theres no blood shed, keep a purple spray at hand just incase. first time i put new girls in i made it worse by stepping in and not letting them sort out the pecking order, and it took twicw as long for them to sort it out. the next time i took someones advice on here to leave them to it, and it sorted itself out so much quicker, so thats what i do now every time i have new girls to add.

[New shoot]

I would put your new girls in the secure run during the first day as your garden will be new to them and if you let them free range before they have fixed on your coop as 'home', you might have problems catching them that night.  They will fight through the wire but let them get on with that.

The best time to put the new girls into the coop is that night but if you have major fights the next day, I would agree that you put your existing girls in the run, let the new ones free range and then have supervised mixed free ranging for a day or so.  They will sort themselves out but be ready for some aggression and have purple spray to hand 

[Pepperpincushion]

Quite a few different approaches! 
I have a lot of experience with introducing rabbits (to other rabbits!) which from the sounds of it can be quite similar - a lot of squabbling, possibly quite aggressive, but best left to get on with it ( under a close watch) unless there is blood shed! I have a good track record with successfully matching up rabbits so hopefully it will go well with the chickens too!
I think I will go with the original plan of keeping the new girls in the run and keep a close eye on things then move them into the coop after dark.
Really looking forward to getting the new girls now!  (Especially as the egg basket is empty!  )

[Pepperpincushion]

Well the two new girls are here and very pretty they are too  :happy:
They are in a run with the older girls free ranging. The old ones went and had a look at them when they arrived and have just gone back to their normal activities  The new girls seem really laid back and calm.
So far so good, but fingers crossed for a peaceful night!

[bantam novice]

Good luck Pepperpincushion 
Keep us posted and how about some pics? 

[Pepperpincushion]

My daughter let them out this morning and said that one of the new ones was getting a little pecked and pulled but since then they have all been fine.
They are all free-ranging now and the new girls seem surprisingly relaxed and confident 
Will get some pictures later!

[New shoot]

Glad it went well PP    A bit of pecking is to be expected, but if the new girls seem happy they are obviously more than ready to stand their corner and it should all settle down quickly.

[Pepperpincushion]

A week and a bit on and things are generally OK, but when we go to let them out in the morning, there is always quite a bit of pushing and shoving going on in the coop and the new pair are usually getting pecked by somebody. Once out they generally stick in two groups new and old - and don't bother too much with each other, though the old ones are still territorial over food and chase the new two off so they can get first pickings. There has been no real violence or injuries though.
Does this sound "normal"? When can I expect them to be properly accepted into the flock??
I am looking at upgrading the coop as it's pretty cosy in there now (though they free range all day). Do you think more space and a new, "neutral" home will help?