Bit of advice please :-)

We have two chooks. We bought three, but one died from … unknown … about 2 or 3 weeks after we got them; and one is only an intemittant layer, so we need some more.

Hubby has ordered two more ‘cause I read somewhere that you should introduce the same number as what you’ve already got. The new chooks are POL, so shouldn’t be too much smaller than our current chooks. I’m picking them up once I get going on my day. (School holidays – I’m being very lazy.)

Should we keep them somehow separated from the existing chooks for a while. Could be difficult ‘cause we’ve only got one cage and one coop. But if all you experts think we should I’ll work it out somehow.

the usual advice is to keep them separate for a period of time to make sure you aren’t introducing any new pest or disease to your existing flock. having said that I haven’t bothered in the past but did end out bringing in scaley leg mite from an introduced chook. If you are confident that they are of good health and you have checked them for parasites or if they have been recently treated then go ahead and put them together straight away. It is mainly a precaution to protect existing stock if you have large quantities or valuable show birds or something.

and the best time to put the new chooks in is at night while they are sleepy.