[Badger]

Hi, we are new at keeping hens, at the moment we have 4. Two RI Reds, 1 Light Sussex, and a Marran. We have today brought a pair of Partridge Wyandotte (hen & cockerel). We were wondering how to introduce them to the others. We have a large coop (48"x39") with 3 nest boxes, the coop is surrounded by an electric netting compound aprox 50ft x 25ft. The lady we are purchasing them from said to wait till the other birds are in the coop for the night, then put the new pair straight in with them. Does anybody have different suggestions, or is this the way to go ?.

Badger

[bamford6]

thats whot i would do keep an eye on them should be ok

[sarha]

Agree with bamford....It has worked for me! Enjoy our new chooks!

[plumseverywhere]

we did that. added them at dusk when they went to bed. no real problems with settling. they still did their pecking order business. we are buying some more this week coming and will do the same again.

[CameronS]

i allways seem to get my new hens in the morning, and it seems unfair to keep them in the box till bedtime, so i just put the new chooks in and let them sort it out in daylight where i can allways watch from a distance, to date i have never had any problems with introducing this way

[Badger]

Well 3 replies saying evening, and one favouring the morning. I think we will go with the majority on this first occasion. Thanks to all.....by the way, we had our very first egg on Thursday, and today looks like there may be a second on the way.

Badger

[Sharondp]

Whenever people buy birds from me, i recommend they come and collect them in the evening to settle them in 

[plumseverywhere]

I get mine from domestic fowl trust and what I tend to do it, go there first thing so I get first pick (!) then buy what I want and they (bless them!) keep them for me until I collect at dusk to integrate in the coop at bedtime.

[Badger]

That's another two for the dusk approach. We have made arrangements to pick the birds up late tomorrow afternoon. Wish us luck !.

Badger

[Bright Raven]

Yes, go with the evening introductions. They can have a glass of wine and a game of cards and get to know each other that way. It works for us.

[little blue]

just expect a few days of unrest, as they get the pecking order sorted.  but another vote for night time here!

for future additions...
we've found its easier to add lots than just a few (reletively speaking!) , and if you get a really stroppy girl, make her the one to move into new territory... 

[Badger]

Thanks to all for your advice. The introduction went OK, though last night the 2 new birds would not go back in the coop. They were walking all around it, and you could see they were thinking of getting inside. They couldn't seem to grasp climbing the ramp to the coop, the cockerel even tried to fly onto the roof of the coop. Eventually we had to net them, and put them in manually, we they soon get the idea do you think ?.

Badger

[nagoff]

When I move new chicks out to a bigger run, they often seem to need to be put into their coop by hand for the first couple of nights until they get the hang of it. So I wouldn't worry too much - its normal (for me!).

[Badger]

Thanks for that, yes I don't enjoy netting them, I feel this must cause them a lot of stress.

Badger

[plumseverywhere]

I remember having to usher some of mine into bed of a night - its a case of catching enough dusk light to do it so you know you've got them all in!  I found the younger ones soon sussed out where bed was and would put themself to bed much earlier than my older girls, very sweet!