| As the owner of backyard chickens, you will no | | | | perches. At night-time the chickens are less likely to |
| doubt be familiar with the concept of a 'pecking | | | | start a fight to establish the pecking order. In the |
| order' in chicken society. Many people however, do | | | | morning, the chickens seem to be less aware of the |
| not realise the implications of adding new chickens to | | | | new additions. |
| an existing flock, who have previously established | | | | 3. Distract birds with special treats |
| their place within the chicken hierarchy. | | | | If night-time isn't a practical time for you to integrate |
| You might not realise it, but each chicken knows who | | | | your chickens, you can at least take measures to |
| they are allowed to pick on (those beneath them in | | | | distract the older chickens while you introduce the |
| the hierarchy) and which other chickens they must | | | | new birds. Feed the chickens some fruit or veggie |
| be submissive to. Adding new chickens throws the | | | | scraps, fresh weeds or grain to keep them busy and |
| hierarchy into confusion, with a new order needing to | | | | less aware of what is happening. |
| be established. During this phase, fighting will occur | | | | 4. Add chickens of a similar size/ age |
| amongst the chickens in order to determine who is | | | | Also keep in mind that there will be less fighting if |
| submissive and who is dominant, and in the end, who | | | | you introduce new chickens that are of a similar age |
| will be the 'top chook'. | | | | or at least a similar size to your older hens. If your |
| So here are 5 tips to make the transition process as | | | | new chickens are considerably younger and therefore |
| easy as possible for you, your older hens and the | | | | smaller, they will almost certainly be picked on by |
| new additions. | | | | older chickens and less able to defend themselves. |
| 1. Use two coops side by side | | | | The closer the chickens are in size/ age the less |
| If you happen to have two coops (or chicken | | | | fighting that will take place. |
| tractors) or are able to borrow a small coop for a | | | | 5. Don't add a second rooster |
| week or two, you have the option of putting your | | | | Remember that one rooster will rule the roost. If |
| new chickens in this second coop, which can then | | | | you're thinking of adding a second rooster to your |
| stand alongside your main coop. This gives both | | | | flock, you might like to think again. Roosters are quite |
| groups of chickens the opportunity to get familiar | | | | possessive of the chickens in their coop and will fight |
| with each other, without any physical contact. After | | | | with the new rooster, even to death, to eliminate |
| a week or so, you can then integrate the new | | | | the threat of this new male in their environment. |
| chickens into the main coop. While it's likely that | | | | Practically it really isn't necessary to have several |
| there'll be some fighting, it will be less intense due to | | | | roosters, as one can adequately 'service' quite a |
| the precautionary, 'familiarization' phase that you've | | | | number of chickens for fertilization purposes. I'm sure |
| undertaken. | | | | many owners of backyard chickens would also agree, |
| 2. Introduce new chickens at night-time | | | | that one very early morning wake up call is quite |
| It has also been found that introducing new chickens | | | | adequate - two roosters belting out a tune at 6am |
| to a flock at night-time can help to minimise the | | | | would be too much for you and your neighbours to |
| fighting that occurs. Grab a torch and place the | | | | take, no matter how much you love your backyard |
| newest additions amongst the older chickens on the | | | | chickens! |