Introducing new hens to a flock

When planning to introduce new hens to an existing flock, the first thing is to realise that an existing flock regard the sleeping quarters and pen as “theirs”.

They have established their pecking order and every bird knows its place - in the flock, on the perches and in the nest boxes.

The second thing to remember is that young birds don’t have fully developed immune systems and can die from disease if introduced to an adult flock at too young an age.