Hi Bigblacktaximan
I've added in chickens to my mob a couple of times now and am collecting another 3 soon so have the same dilema.
What has always worked for me is:
Try and get slightly older girls to mix in - tiny chickies will get mullered but fully adult will stand a better chance
Introduce as a little gang, not separate unrelated birds
Be around for the first couple of days just in case it all really kicks off
Have some wound spray and beak rings to hand for emergency use
If there is a main ring leader(s) in your existing group causing major aggro consider taking them out and putting in your spare coup rather than isolate the new girls
Get your new girls in at bedtime, then shut the pophole so it's dark and they nod off before they realise what has happened
Have chickie snacks and treats on hand for distraction purposes the next morning
Have more than 1 water and food supply site for the first couple of weeks so everyone gets a chance
I tend to take my main hooligan out next morning and have her helping
![unsure :unsure:](https://chat.allotment-garden.org/Smileys/green/unsure.gif)
me with the gardening while the new girls settle
My run is big enough they can get out of each others way and has an upper story on the hen house roof, so if you have a very small run you will have to be extra vigilent. There will be some squabbling but it's ganging up and pecking you need to watch for.
There are loads of really experienced chicken keepers on the forum so sure you will get loads of good advice
![happy :)](https://chat.allotment-garden.org/Smileys/green/smile.gif)