Can you introduce new chickens to existing flock?
Unfortunately, adding new chickens into your already existing backyard flock is not always as simple as putting them into the coop and letting them live happily ever after- problems are bound to occur. It’s the nature of chickens to develop a ‘pecking order’, which is an established animal hierarchy within the flock.Click to see full…
Unfortunately, adding new chickens into your already existing backyard flock is not always as simple as putting them into the coop and letting them live happily ever after- problems are bound to occur. It’s the nature of chickens to develop a ‘pecking order’, which is an established animal hierarchy within the flock.Click to see full answer. Accordingly, when can I introduce new chickens to the flock?Wait until chicks are at a minimum 4 weeks old to begin introductions, but 6 weeks would be better. The younger the chicks, the longer you are going to want to draw out the introduction period. Ideally, by the time you mix the flocks permanently, the chicks will be bigger and fully feathered out (around 8-12 weeks). how do you introduce a new rooster to a flock of hens? If you’re introducing a rooster to a flock of hens, then you can let the two mingle after a day or two. Both should be happy to meet and there’s no pecking order to establish. If you’re introducing a rooster and hens, then a couple of weeks should be adequate. Beside above, can you mix chickens of different ages? It’s completely possible to combine multiple age groups of chickens into one space. Ideally, you can keep them separate until they’re full-grown, but not everyone has that much room. Never put day old chicks with laying hens. The age difference just too much.Will hens kill each other?yes, chickens will kill each other. usually happens when new chickens are introduced to an established flock. or chickens of different ages are put together. then there is cannibalism, which is not aggression based, but a bad habit induced by boredom & hunger- and can end up with chickens killing each other.
