How to Successfully Add Chickens to Your Flock

As the spring comes around, we all feel a desire to add additional hens to our flock! However, introducing new chickens to your existing flock may be a stressful and difficult experience— for you and your chicks, both. Here are a few ways to successfully get around the problem. 

  Quarantine Before Introducing New Flock

  Make sure you have a separate enclosure (or a large container) ready for your new chicks when they arrive. If you have a separate pen for them, you'll want to make sure they're safe in there while they're quarantined. An automatic chicken coop door is one of the greatest ways to strengthen your coop. 

 You can keep an eye on them from this separate coop to make sure they're healthy and disease-free; the last thing you want is for your existing flock to catch a sickness from your new hens.

 The following are the most common signs of ill-health in new chickens to look for 

 Presence of lice or mites

• A comb that is dull and withered
• Their nostrils are blocked, and there is fluid pouring from their eyes. 
• Scaled legs

 Introduce them slowly

 You'll need a time period during which your old flock can see but not touch the new chicks. The simplest means to accomplish this is to put the new hens in their own enclosure— right next to the old one. 

 Your existing flock will be able to adjust to the additional hens without bickering right away. 

 Another popular method is to insert a box into the current pen and place your new chicks inside. We haven't used this method because it is more disruptive.

 Strive for a proper introduction

 If you have free-range hens, the easiest way of introducing them is to let the new entrants free-range first. Open the old coop after a few minutes and let your pre-existing flock free-range with the new chicks.

 When your old flock meets the new chicks, there will be some scraping and jostling as they figure out the new pecking order.

 This is very natural and a crucial step in properly introducing new chicks to your flock.

 Automatic Chicken Coop Door | A Must-have

 Old or new chicks, here’s why an Automatic Chicken Coop Door is imperative in pen

•  It has a plug-and-play operation and takes about 10 minutes to set up. 
• The door does not require an outlet to operate; it runs on four AA batteries or a six-volt battery (adapter included) 
• Protection Sensor - When the door closes, it has a built-in sensor that detects any impediment underneath, preventing injury to the new and existing hens. 
• Deters Predators From Attacking the Chickens - The notches that the gear utilizes to open and close the door work as a self-locking mechanism, preventing predators from entering into the chicken coop. Your chickens will stay safe, and you will be able to enjoy fresh eggs every morning.
• Weatherproof design examined to run during rainy weather as well as excessive colds going as low as 5°F.

 Some backyard chicken keepers may find the above exercises time-consuming and pointless. However, in our experience, it is advisable not to rush these things and ensure that due research is performed before taking the plunge.