[paulsou]

What is the best way to introduce more chickens to existing chickens??
 They will be free range in 150 sq mtr run & sharing the hen house, will they fight? can they be younger birds??

[carl]

I put them together in the coop in the evening, and they seem to be ok in the moring. usually a bit of pecking order politics to sort out, but have had no problems so far.
good luck

[paulsou]

If i put the new chickens in with others late at night will they still fight? & does it matter the age of the new chickens?

[doganjo]

Probably better to add younger chickens.  If you put them in the hen house when it is dark or nearly dark the other hens will already be docile having settled down for the night.  So when they wake up in the morning they will think that the other hens are part of the flock that have been there since day one.  That's the theory anyway and it usually works.  There may still be one or two skirmishes if you have any bossy hens already but nothing too serious usually.  The only problem I can foresee is if any of your new hens are carrying a bug that hasn't manifested itself yet. Personally I'd keep them segregated for a week.
Good luck
what do you have now and what are you bringing in?

[paulsou]

I have 7 warrens at moment, they are 18 months old but i only get 3 eggs a day on average so i need to add more chickens to keep up with demand but i dont know yet what to add & what age to get!!

[doganjo]

Hybrids are usually better layers - RIR crosses are good I believe.

[Wellieboots]

the only problem with putting in youngsters (less than say 12 weeks is that there might be some bullying going on). My advice is best to go for 12 week plus birds, stick them into the arc/hut to get it imprinted in their noggins & just keep an eye out for the older ones espec. when they come into the hut to lay. Its not always easy to introduce newbies in the evening, depends on who's laying, work etc..etc.. but there is so much advice out there some of it conflicting so just have a go & keep an eye on them. Best to do it at the weekend or whenever you are around for the whole day. They ain't the brightest baubles on the tree so it won't be long before they accept the newbies as having been there all along.
Oh & the spray all the chooks with a dilute vinegar solution so that they all smell the same is pish! Doesn't work & I know of no-one for whom it has worked...cue loads of posts confirming it has 

[shetlandpaul]

unless blood is being drawn don't interfere you will only make it worse.