gavclojak Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I have never introduced new hens so my question is, out of the plans listed below, what has better chance of success and also, does it ever happen that they will never accept each other...I really don't want two separate warring factions!! Plan A Week 1 separate the run and block with plants so hens cant see each other week 2 remove said plants so hens can see each other but are separated by netting week 3 allow some supervised free range time together week 4 as above week 5 if all goes well remove the net and let them choose where they sleep week 6 dependant on week 5 remove spare eglu and allow all in the cube Plan B throw them all in together and wait for Armageddon Plan c leave well alone and stick with my remaining three until they....shush....don't say it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 It's a really difficult one. I've had success with just putting the new ones in with the old straight away. You just need lots of perches and different feeding stations. I have at the moment a run with my WIR, for my growers and their mum. That way they can all see each other. This worked really well for me once before, when I had a young silkie and a quail. The older girls didn't even seem to notice once I'd taken the extra run away. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I'd go for plan A.That is roughly what I did when I got 3 POL to go with my 4 ex batts.I have to say it worked well, or I was just lucky.My new ones had new classic and now iris totally ignored as all are roosting outside except Miss Merryweather who has gone broody again There is odd chasing the newbies away from treats but no pecking or bullying although when out FR they are two definite flocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeshen Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Yes, agree with Grandmashazzle. Slow but steady seems to cause the least hassle in my experience. Plenty of eye-contact 'through the wire' seems to be good, maybe for a couple of weeks. Also I find throwing their afternoon corn to both groups as near to the divide as possible seems to help bonding a bit, as they're all rummaging together. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 we went with plan a but a short version - over about 3 weeks. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
