All poultry are social animals with a complex social hierarchy. Adding new birds to an existing flock can be stressful for everyone, especially in a limited physical space. Taking time and doing it correctly will help the integration go smoothly.
First Thing, Quarantine
Any bird, no matter how young, can carry pathogens that are new to your existing flock. Any new member, no matter the age, should be quarantined away from your resident birds for a minimum of 30 days. This will happen rather naturally if you are raising young chicks in a brooder environment. However, older birds should be kept in a specified quarantine area far from the flock for this time period. Keep an eye open during this time for any signs of illness or disease.
Size Matters
As much as possible, have the sizes of birds being introduced to each other comparable. While a large bird will not always bully a smaller bird, there is a greater chance of injury if the size between birds is significant. If introducing young birds, they should be fully feathered and roosting before being combined with older birds. This normally translates to a minimum of 16 weeks of age.
Slow Exposure
The most important peace-making technique is to allow the birds to see one another, and even be in the same space together, without having physical access to one another. This will allow them to become accustomed to each other over a period of time. If you have a run, you can achieve this by putting the new birds in the run with your old-timers but separating them with chicken wire, hardware cloth, or something else that'll do the same job. During this time the new birds will also need a separate roosting area. A wire dog crate or exercise pen can be used to secure an area for the new birds where they can be seen but not pecked. Make sure, of course, that everyone has access to food and water. This proximity housing will normally need to be for around two weeks to allow for a smooth entry into the main flock.
Numbers are Better
Try to never introduce a single chicken into an existing flock. At least one known buddy will help tremendously in reducing the likelihood of being picked on as the "new girl". A single chicken, unless a rooster entering a flock of hens, will almost always end up being bullied.
Face to Face
After a couple of weeks, the new birds can be allowed into the main flock during a time you are available to watch and intervene if necessary. The best introductions occur when there is plenty of space for everyone and distractions abound. Some minor scuffling is to be expected as the pecking order is established, but if any true fights erupt or blood is seen, step in to intervene. More keys to a successful introduction include providing hiding spots, extra access to the vertical with more roosts or even temporary branches for the young birds, close supervision and numerous locations for feed and water. Consider adding dead leaves, grass clippings, pulled weeds and/or table scraps to their run, giving them plenty to dig through and stay occupied. If an injury does occur, remove the injured birds for treatment as blood will always invite pecking from other flock members.
Cock Birds
The above considerations are primarily for introducing new pullets into an existing hen flock. Male birds, whether young cockerels or adult cock birds, are a different matter. Raised together, young cockerels will normally coexist peacefully until at least a year of age and possibly longer (especially if there is lots of room). However, introducing adult males to each other is always a challenge and especially so if females are present.
First Thing, Quarantine
Any bird, no matter how young, can carry pathogens that are new to your existing flock. Any new member, no matter the age, should be quarantined away from your resident birds for a minimum of 30 days. This will happen rather naturally if you are raising young chicks in a brooder environment. However, older birds should be kept in a specified quarantine area far from the flock for this time period. Keep an eye open during this time for any signs of illness or disease.
Size Matters
As much as possible, have the sizes of birds being introduced to each other comparable. While a large bird will not always bully a smaller bird, there is a greater chance of injury if the size between birds is significant. If introducing young birds, they should be fully feathered and roosting before being combined with older birds. This normally translates to a minimum of 16 weeks of age.
Slow Exposure
The most important peace-making technique is to allow the birds to see one another, and even be in the same space together, without having physical access to one another. This will allow them to become accustomed to each other over a period of time. If you have a run, you can achieve this by putting the new birds in the run with your old-timers but separating them with chicken wire, hardware cloth, or something else that'll do the same job. During this time the new birds will also need a separate roosting area. A wire dog crate or exercise pen can be used to secure an area for the new birds where they can be seen but not pecked. Make sure, of course, that everyone has access to food and water. This proximity housing will normally need to be for around two weeks to allow for a smooth entry into the main flock.
Numbers are Better
Try to never introduce a single chicken into an existing flock. At least one known buddy will help tremendously in reducing the likelihood of being picked on as the "new girl". A single chicken, unless a rooster entering a flock of hens, will almost always end up being bullied.
Face to Face
After a couple of weeks, the new birds can be allowed into the main flock during a time you are available to watch and intervene if necessary. The best introductions occur when there is plenty of space for everyone and distractions abound. Some minor scuffling is to be expected as the pecking order is established, but if any true fights erupt or blood is seen, step in to intervene. More keys to a successful introduction include providing hiding spots, extra access to the vertical with more roosts or even temporary branches for the young birds, close supervision and numerous locations for feed and water. Consider adding dead leaves, grass clippings, pulled weeds and/or table scraps to their run, giving them plenty to dig through and stay occupied. If an injury does occur, remove the injured birds for treatment as blood will always invite pecking from other flock members.
Cock Birds
The above considerations are primarily for introducing new pullets into an existing hen flock. Male birds, whether young cockerels or adult cock birds, are a different matter. Raised together, young cockerels will normally coexist peacefully until at least a year of age and possibly longer (especially if there is lots of room). However, introducing adult males to each other is always a challenge and especially so if females are present.