Introducing New Birds

We often get asked how to introduce new chickens to a coop with older hens. It’s a common situation—maybe you're growing your flock or replacing birds you've lost. So let’s walk through how to safely introduce new baby chicks.

First things first: start with healthy birds. Always buy from a reputable hatchery that participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). This ensures they're testing for Pullorum Disease, monitoring for avian influenza, and taking good care of flock health. Most retail stores also source chicks from NPIP-certified hatcheries.

Once you've got healthy chicks, raise them separately from your existing flock. By the time they're 6–8 weeks old, old enough to regulate their own body temperature, you can start the introduction process.

How you do that depends on how many birds you're adding and the space you have. If possible, use a dog kennel or bird crate. Place the chicks inside with food and water, then set the crate in the coop with the door closed. This lets everyone see and get used to each other without direct contact.  If it is not possible to keep them in a small container like a dog kennel use this same process but try to separate them with a small piece of fencing or netting.

Watch their behavior closely. What you're looking for is indifference—when the older birds stop paying much attention to the newcomers, that’s a sign they’re ready to coexist. When that happens, open the crate and let the chicks out.

To help ease the transition, move the main feeders and waterers. This can “reset” routines and help shuffle the pecking order. Keep the crate in the coop as a safe zone where the new birds can retreat, with food and water available inside.

Now’s the time to really observe. If the older hens are being overly aggressive, try distracting them with treats like heads of lettuce. It gives them something else to peck at besides the new flock members.

If things still aren’t going well, don’t worry—just start the process over. Most of the time, within a day or two, the flock will settle in, reestablish their pecking order, and enjoy their new coop mates!