Cara Wheeldon discovers how to smoothly introduce new birds, curb bullying, and keep your flock happy and harmonious this spring.
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, many poultry keepers will soon begin introducing new birds or chicks to their flocks. But with fresh additions comes the challenge of maintaining harmony within the pecking order.
Kate Merritt, a 58-year-old seasoned poultry keeper from the north east coast of Lincolnshire, and 52-year-old Esther Peel, another experienced chicken enthusiast, share their insights on navigating flock dynamics during the bustling spring season.
THE IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION
Kate Merritt’s journey with poultry began12 years ago after moving from Kent to Lincolnshire. Wanting to slow down from work, she decided chickens would keep her disciplined and give her more reason to rise in the morning. Most of her flock consists of rescued ex-battery hens, alongside a few pure breeds, including a spirited Pekin bantam cockerel.
“My next-door neighbour, however, has a large flock of mainly Barnevelder bantams, which, because of his age, I now spend a lot of time working with,” Kate adds. Reflecting on her flock’s behaviour, Kate emphasises the value of observation.“I think the most important thing I have learnt about flock dynamics is to pay attention to them. If you spend enough time, the flock dynamics can tell you what is happening with some of your birds,” Kate says, recalling when her deputy hen became unwell within the group.
“I noticed the shift in the flock beforeI noticed she was poorly,” confirms Kate.“That taught me quite a lot about thedynamics of the flock and what we can learn from just paying attention to their natural order.”
Understanding subtle changes in flock behaviour, such as new bullying and squabbling, allows keepers to intervene if something is amiss. Kate’s approach underlines how attentiveness can safeguard the health and well-being of the flock without interfering too much with the natural order of the group.
INTRODUCING NEW BIRDS
Integrating new birds can be tricky, especially when mixing different sizes and temperaments. Kate recalls introducing her sole Pekin bantam hen into a flock of larger birds. “I was very cautious of her size when introducing them. So, I integrated them very carefully,” she says. “I put her in a coop inside the run on her own, but she could see the larger girls, and they could see her. I noticed that the larger girls would talk to her through the cage, and she and the buff Orpingtons got along like a house on fire!”
This gradual introduction allows bantams to become part of the flock without being overwhelmed. Giving owners more control over the gradual introduction of birds to the established flock. Kate recommends giving new birds two weeks in a visible but separate area.
“My biggest tip is to just put the birds into an area where they can see and almost connect with the main flock for about two weeks,” she says.“This usually integrates them quite well. Just ensure you are there to watch so that if things go wrong, you can help them.”
Esther Peel echoes this advice, stressing patience and vigilance during introductions.“After two weeks, I tend to leave the door open for them to come out when they feel ready. I have never had a single issue when introducing birds this way,” says Esther. Allowing your birds to acclimate visually and audibly before physical interaction means that aggression in the flock will be lower, and social bonds can form naturally without the fear of bloodshed or further damage.
This article extract was taken from the Spring 2025 edition of The Country Smallholder. To read the article in full, you can buy the issue here.
