separating the new girls

[SteevK]

Hi all
for various reasons, I've been chicken less for a good few months now, but like most drugs, once you are hooked you just can't give it up. So.... new coop, new spot in the garden and some new girls (soon). I want a variety of breeds so it means getting 3 or 4 chooks from one breeder and then a few hours later introducing another 2 or 3 from another breeder. The question is, am I going to have to separate the newer girls and introduce them in the same way as you would with an established flock?

[Scarlet]

I've never been in that situation so not tried and tested....I would lock them all in the coop together, don't let them out in the run until the following day when they will all be trying to find their feet. The only thing that is worrying about that is that if one set have an illness, the others will be likely to pick it up.

[RedThorn]

From a pecking order point of view, they should all be off kilter so from a flock point of view, I'd put all together from start, keeping first batch closed in until you have all. As scarlet says , from a health point of view, not recommended

[kathyd]

I bought from 2 separate people initially too, some adults and some younger ones, and put them all in together late in the evening. Seemed fine on the whole, but we do now have myco in the flock from the older birds I suspect... So be aware!

[SteevK]

Thank you all for your advise. It seems the health thing is a reoccurring issue. I think I'll play it safe and buy all my girls from the one breeder.

[RichmondHens]

Keep each batch separate for health reasons for 2 weeks (usual quarantine period for most avian diseases). If they all seem ok after that then put all together. Ask the breeders before you purchase about returns/replacement policy should any birds become ill in that time.

[snuffer]

I purchased my chuckaloos from one breeder who had several, separate flocks. I chose a couple of birds from each flock, two Light Sussex, one Maran together with three assorted Orpingtons and put them into the coop altogether when I got home. I have had no problems at all. Pecking order soon sorted out with very little argy bargy. They all get on very well.