Bringing chickens home—whether it’s your first flock or a few new additions—is an exciting step toward a rewarding lifestyle. At Wise County Chicken Farm, we want that transition to go as smoothly as possible for both you and your birds. This guide walks you through everything to expect—and how to prepare—so your chickens settle in safely and stress-free.
🏡 Before Pickup: Set Up Their Space
Before your chickens ever leave our farm, their new home should be 100% ready for them to move into. That includes:
- A secure coop with proper ventilation and predator protection
- Bedding like pine shavings or straw
- Clean feeders and waterers
- Access to shade and fresh water (especially in hot Texas weather)
- A separate space if you’re adding birds to an existing flock (more on that below)
- Go ahead and fill up the waterer so it’s ready to go the moment they arrive
💡 The more prepared you are ahead of time, the less stress your birds will experience during the transition.
🚗 Transport Tips
When you come to pick up your poultry, it’s important to have a safe, secure way to transport them home.
We highly recommend poultry crates, as they offer good airflow and solid footing. Cardboard boxes or plastic totes are not ideal—they lack traction, can overheat quickly, and increase the risk of injury.
🔒 Don’t have a poultry crate?
We’ve got you covered! We rent and sell poultry crates to make transporting your birds as safe and stress-free as possible.
👉 Check them out here.
Pro tip: Don’t mix birds of different sizes or ages in one crate. Bring separate carriers if you’re picking up chicks, juveniles, and adults at the same time.
❄️ Winter Transport Tips
Chickens live in feather-down jackets year-round—so in cooler weather, most birds can be transported safely at any time of day. That said, here are a few key tips:
- If transporting in the bed of a pickup, place your crate up close to the cab for wind protection
- If the temperature is below 45°F, consider bringing a wind block—such as a tarp or blanket
- Do not fully enclose the crate—blocking three sides or both sides and the top is usually sufficient to keep them comfortable while maintaining ventilation
☀️ Summer Transport Tips
If temps are above 85°F, we highly recommend transporting in the morning hours.
🕙 Best practice: Try to have your birds off the vehicle, settled into their new home, and adjusting by 10 a.m. This prevents them from experiencing peak heat while already under stress.
Stress during transport raises adrenaline, cortisol, blood pressure, and heart strain. Add heat to the mix, and birds are at an even higher risk for dehydration, heatstroke, and respiratory distress.
In most cases, poultry travel better in the bed of a truck rather than inside an air-conditioned vehicle. Sounds strange, right? Let me explain...
Abrupt temperature shifts—from cold A/C to hot air—can lead to respiratory issues and shock, making transition even harder. Have you ever came inside during the middle of the day to cool off during a hot day, then tried to go back outside after an hour? When you first step outside it seems even hotter than before, and almost takes your breath away. The idea is the same for birds.
🧠 Following the 10 a.m. rule helps minimize stress, maintain and regulate their internal temperature easier and gives them time to decompress safely in their new home.
🌧️ What about rain?
Poultry can usually be transported safely during rainy days if temperatures are mild or warm. However, during colder or wintery months, we strongly discourage transporting birds in the rain/snow/sleet etc without proper coverage.
The challenge is in finding the right balance:
- Birds should be protected from direct rain or snow
- But not sealed up so tight that they lack ventilation—which can quickly lead to humidity buildup, ammonia exposure, or overheating from trapped body heat
🐔 When You First Get Home
We recommend going straight home after pickup and getting your birds into their new environment immediately. The sooner they’re settled, the better.
When you arrive, place your new birds directly into the coop or the area where you want them to roost at night. This helps them identify their “home base.” Chickens are very location-oriented and usually only need about 3 days in their new space before they begin to explore and return to it reliably.
⛅ Keep an eye on the weather—especially heat. If it's over 85°F, check the inside temperature of your coop. If your coop doesn't have good airflow, it might be safer to place your birds near the coop or in the run where they can stay cooler but still get used to their surroundings.
It’s very normal for new birds to be:
- Quiet, hesitant, or hiding for a few days
- Uninterested in food or water at first
- Slow to explore their surroundings
💡 Don’t panic if you don’t see much of them for the first few days—they’re just adjusting. Let them come out when they feel safe and ready.
If you plan to free range, give your birds 3 full days in or around the coop first. That’s usually enough time for them to recognize where home is—and most will reliably return to roost at dusk.
🪜 If your coop has a ramp, they may need help learning how to use it. Same goes for roost bars—it can take them a few weeks to figure it out. But don’t worry—99% of the time, they’ll be close by, even if they don’t quite make it inside on the first few nights.
🌙 If they don’t make it into the coop by dark, gently pick them up and place them where you want them to sleep. Doing this for a few nights helps teach them where they’re supposed to be—and they’ll usually catch on quickly.
🪶 Feeding Your New Chickens
We highly recommend continuing the same feed your birds were raised on here at Wise County Chicken Farm—at least for the first few weeks. Keeping their diet consistent helps support a smooth transition and avoids digestive stress.
You shop for all of our feed and supplements here.
If you decide to switch to a different feed brand or type, please do so gradually over the course of about a week. Mix a little more of the new feed in each day until fully transitioned.
🚫 Also, hold off on offering treats for the first two weeks. We know it's fun to spoil them—but during their adjustment period, simplicity is key. The fewer changes we introduce, the quicker and easier their transition will be.
🐓 Merging flocks with a new feed?
If you're adding our birds to an existing flock and there's going to be an immediate change in feed, monitor your new birds closely. Some poultry can be surprisingly picky—especially if the new feed looks or smells different than what they’re used to. It's not uncommon for birds to balk or boycott feed they're unfamiliar with.
🧪 Support Their Immune System
Moving to a new environment is stressful on a bird’s body, so we always recommend offering poultry electrolytes and probiotics in their water for the first few days.
These supplements help:
- Rehydrate and replenish minerals lost during travel
- Support gut health
- Boost immunity during the adjustment phase
👉 You can shop our recommended electrolyte and probiotic products here.
In addition to supplements, consider these immune-boosting practices:
- Keep bedding clean and dry
- Minimize stress like excessive handling or loud activity
- Avoid abrupt changes in temperature, feed, or housing
- Provide constant access to clean water
- Observe daily for early signs of illness (puffed feathers, pale combs, slow movement, etc.)
⚠️ The goal is consistency. Minimize disruptions, keep things calm, and support hydration and gut health to give your new flock the best chance at a healthy start.
🐥 Adding to an Existing Flock?
If you’re introducing new birds to an existing flock, quarantine is highly recommended.
Our advice if you are able - is to keep new arrivals in a separate pen for 2–4 weeks so you can monitor for any signs of illness and avoid immediate conflict. After quarantine, introduce them slowly using a “see but no touch” setup to reduce pecking order drama.
👉 Important Note:
If you are merging multiple flocks, please understand that our poultry are unvaccinated. While they have developed natural immunity to certain environmental bacteria or diseases, that doesn’t mean they've encountered anything that is at your place. It’s a lot like bringing a new child into a daycare—there’s always a chance of catching something unfamiliar with new territory.
Bringing new poultry into an established flock doesn’t have to be scary—in fact, most flock mergers go seamlessly and without issue. Follow our advice and you should be able to make a seamless transition quickly and easily.
Stay observant during and after introductions. If you notice any signs of illness or distress, separate the birds immediately and reach out if you need help.
🐓 Understanding the Pecking Order
When you merge flocks—or even introduce just one or two new birds—you’ll likely see some establishment of the pecking order. This is completely normal chicken behavior as they work out who’s in charge.
You may notice:
- Chest bumping
- Feather pulling
- Chasing or squabbling
- One or more birds temporarily keeping their distance
We recommend allowing the flock to naturally establish their new hierarchy without intervention, as long as no one is being seriously harmed. This process can look intense, but it’s how chickens create stability.
Free-ranging, even just for a few hours a day, can be incredibly helpful. It provides maximum space for everyone to move freely, avoid conflict, and ease into the new social structure.
That said, if you observe that a bird is:
- Bleeding or visibly injured
- Hiding or crouched in a corner
- Kept from food or water
…it’s time to step in. Remove the injured or targeted bird, give her a few days in a quiet, separate space to heal and destress, and then try reintroducing her calmly.
In rare cases, if one hen is especially dominant or aggressive, you may find success by removing the bully instead. Keep her separated and out of sight of your flock for a few days, then try and reintroduce her. Sometimes this can help “reset” the pecking order and give your new additions a chance to integrate peacefully.
Final Thoughts
Bringing home chickens is a joyful and rewarding experience—and a little preparation goes a long way toward a successful start. Whether you're starting fresh or adding to a flock, your new birds deserve a calm, safe transition. And we’re always here if you need help along the way.
Thank you for choosing Wise County Chicken Farm—we’re proud to be a part of your flock journey!
– The Wise County Chicken Farm Family