How to integrate new chickens

[OzarksRider]

About 1-2 months ago someone dumped 7 chickens on our property. Five of these chickens have disappeared, probably coyote or raccoon dinner. One surviving chicken sleeps in a shrub in front of our house; the other sleeps in the woods across the road. The chicken that sleeps across the road comes over every morning and spends the day with her friend. My chickens know about the strays, and they peck around the yard together without too much drama. But, the strays are still not really part of the flock. The strays will go in the henhouse to eat when my chickens are not around, and one chicken has even used the nest boxes to lay eggs.

So here’s my question: How do I get the stray chickens to integrate with my chickens and start sleeping in the henhouse? Should I just be patient and wait for it to happen? Will they eventually join up or will the two strays continue to sleep in the shrubs and woods? Or should I try to trap the strays and toss them in the henhouse with the others? The strays aren’t causing any problems. It’s just that it’s not safe for them to continue sleeping outdoors, especially once the leaves fall.

[Simkie]

The hard work of integration has been done–the chickens co exist during the day. At this point, you can probably catch up the newbies and put them in the coop. You’ll probably have to keep them locked in for awhile (maybe a week or two?) to reset where “home” is so they go back there to roost at night.

[Mosey_2003]

Yep, lock them in for a week or so. I’d also try to get your hands on them after dark and do a thorough check for parasites, since they’ve been roaming far and wide.

[OzarksRider]

Success!! Two days ago I managed to catch the chicken that had been sleeping in the shrubbery. I put her in one of my cat carriers and waited until my resident chickens went to roost. Then I turned the stray loose in the henhouse. The next night both she and her friend that had been sleeping in the woods went into the henhouse at dusk and roosted with the resident hens. I could hear a little squawking from my hens, but nothing serious. Those girls were ready to move in; they just needed a little encouragement.