Our baby chicks turned 8 weeks old recently and since the weather is starting to get a little cooler and the daylight hours shorter, we decided it was time to introduce the new chickens into our existing flock.
I’ve had people tell me introducing new chickens into your existing flock can be a difficult task, but in the four years that we’ve been raising chickens I’ve never really had any problems beyond the occasional chicken getting a little roughed up to establish the pecking order. And by roughed up I mean getting chased around the chicken yard or getting pecked a few times by an older bird.
In years past we have placed the younger chickens {anywhere from 8-12 weeks} in a fenced off area alongside the chicken run for a few days so the birds could get acquainted. But this time around, keeping the 8 week old chicks separated only last about an hour. We had decided to set the chicks outside in the late afternoon once the older birds had been fed and were pretty much worn out from walking around the chicken run all day.
Well, before we knew it, Black Fatty had flown into the baby chicks fenced area and made herself at home.
You can tell by Mario’s expression he was thrilled. 😉
Once Black Fatty was in there for awhile, the chicks starting flying out of the fenced area one by one to explore their surroundings.
And before we knew it, they were all walking around pretty peacefully together.
Yes, there was the occasional older bird chasing the younger bird, but that’s normal. I think as long as there isn’t any serious damage going on, the pecking order usually works itself out pretty quick.
When dusk came and all the older chickens were settled in the coop for the night, we picked up the baby chicks in groups of two and placed them in the warm nesting boxes inside the coop.
Once they were all in, Black Fatty nestled in right next to them and when we opened the doors the next morning, she was still there with them. 🙂
Now that’s what I call an easy transition.
Do you have chickens?
What has your experience with introducing new chickens into your existing flock been?
~Mavis
And if you are looking for a great chicken book, check out Homemade Living: Keeping Chickens with Ashley English I think it’s pretty awesome.
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erica says
I read u are supposed to sneak them in the coop in the dead of night. And the next morning it is like nothing happened. Lol. Your way sounds easier.
Kendra says
Sounds like Black Fatty has adopted the new checks as her babies.
Marci says
Great!!!! How many chickens do you have sleeping in the Eglu? We got one in the spring, this will be our first winter with one. We have 4 girls, and hope to expand our flock every year. Thx!
Cecily says
You have the most beautiful chickens Mavis! I love the variety. Those Austrolorps sure are a motherly breed aren’t they. I have one that “claims” all the new pullets as her own too!
Mavis Butterfield says
I think the Australorps are the sweetest birds on the planet!! 🙂
Wende says
We introduced three new babies to our three older girls in August. The older girls quit laying and then started their first molt. No eggs for about a month and then we got one or two a day for about a week and now it’s been back to no eggs again for about two or three weeks now. I can’t figure out what’s going on with our three older girls. They started laying in May and have done three eggs a day every day until we got the babies (they were 12 wks when we introduced them) and then it’s like they have gone on strike! The little girls should start laying around thanksgiving I think. Hopefully the bigger girls will get back to business too then! Anyone had their older girls go on strike when you get new babies? And for this long???