Introducing new hens to the brood

[Chluro]

We have 3 hybrids, which were 4 til around christmas, they have been together for about a year now and are very regular layers. DH and the children want to introduce a couple more hens of different varieties and I am just wondering how this is likely to pan out?

Will they "get on" as at the moment, they are a friendly, cheerful bunch and I don't want to upset them

Have you got enough space? That is the main thing really. Also you can't introduce just 1 as it will be bullied - you need at least 2. If you've got room, then some people like to put the hens together at night, but separate them with some sort of mesh during the day so they can see each other but not peck, but you could just put them in and see. Definitely put them in at night, so they wake up together, but be there. Be prepared for 2 or 3 days viciousness and pecking as they sort out the pecking order, be on hand to intervene if it gets bloody (hens are attracted to red, and if they draw blood then that hen could get hurt by bullying). Put out extra feeders and drinker so they can't stop the new hens getting food and water. Try and get hens a similar size to the ones you've already got, then they can stand up for themselves a bit better.

We've had to introduce new hens several times. When we bring them home, I put the new hens in their travelling box in a stable/outhouse etc, (they can get out and wander about the stable but get back in the box to sleep). When it's dark, I carry the whole box into the main henhouse and leave the lid off. The new hens can either hide in the box or get out and roost with the others.

The old girls tend to get a bit pecky over food or prime scratching areas but otherwise they've always settled well.

And as t/shell says, keep an eye on them in case they get too aggressive.

Thanks both We have more than enough room, they are in a huge 10ftx8ft shed type thing that is half mesh and half enclosed iyswim, free roaming when we are around as we have LOADS of foxes

Will bear all that in mind thank you both