I'd like to add more chicks to my established flock...how does that work?

rachelwillow

In the Brooder
6 Years
Feb 19, 2013
48
1
36
I have 5 girls who are about 6 months old...we love them so much that we want a few more. Our original plan was the have 8, and our coop and run is set up for 8 birds. Our local farm store usually has one last batch of day-old chicks at the beginning of August. I have a mixed flock, all different birds (Barred Rock, Brahma, Sex-link, Speckled Sussex, and wyandotte). The weather here is very warm in August (90ish) and stays in the high 80s until the end of September, cooling off a little in October but it's not really cold (40-50) until Halloween. I'm thinking if I get chicks they can probably be outside somewhere because it's warm, right? And can they handle the cold weather at such a young age? It doesn't generally freeze here until December.

How does it work, to bring new chicks into a flock? We have a small area of the run that we can close up to hold the chicks, but I don't have another coop or indoor option. Could the chicks live in a brooder box outdoors until they are 6 weeks? At what age to you introduce them? I would love to be able to keep them outside as the chick dust was pretty nasty in the house.

I have thought about adding more pullets, there are plenty for sale on CL and honestly it sounds like much less hassle than raising chicks again (the novelty quickly wore off for me, chicks are high maintenance!). But I'm afraid of bringing something to my flock, like mites or worms or some other illness. I really trust our local farm store and they have very healthy birds from a reputable hatchery. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions! Thank you!
 
this is what we did, you could probably come up with a good idea from this to accommodate to your space.
normally,you wait until the chicks are the same size as the big ladies, or almost the same size, before mixing them in. We couldn't do that because they were becoming to big for indoors and starting to smell. We had a smaller starter coop from the older ladies before we were certain to keep the chickens. it was from CCONLY and holds about 6-10 chickens and cost about $300 plus a run. to let the little chickens meet the older hens we kept them in that small coop. Now they are bigger and we let them roam around. They still get picked on a little from the bigger ladies (i guess to establish a pecking order) but it isn't bad. but we do give them a separate waterer and feeder (of course). but so far everything is good and we've been doing this for at least a month now.

I think a brooder box would work depending on its strength. make sure they can't jump over the sides if you don't want that.you could also get a wire fence and make a smaller fence to put your chicks in near your hens.
 
This time of year it is easy to brood them outside. I would watch the temperatures the first couple of weeks, around here it can get into the fifties at night in August. A weather proof enclosure is easy enough to make, that can serve as a brooder box. Allowing them to have an area of the run is a good idea, they will get to know each other during the time they are growing up. The youngest I'd let them mingle is eight weeks. Even then a lot of space with places to hide or get away is advised. Making an opening in the separating partition small enough for only the chicks would be good. Letting them mingle for several weeks with each having their own sleeping quarters works best, before you move everyone together. With pullets a separate area for a week before combining them would be what I would do.
 
My last batch went into the flock without a broody at 5 days old and had been outside without heat since 3 days old. I took them out to visit the girls as soon as they were dry and walking about. Then started them in a run (with a box for the nest) just for them in the yard where the girls could meet them. A broody that had just lost her clutch of 10 eggs was very upset that I had 23 chicks and thought about steeling them! (maybe she thought I stole them from her) At 5 days old I lifted the fence where the little ones could get out (like they weren't already) and let them run, lots of hiding places (hiding places is key). (yes there is some pecking order but no damage) At 7 days they were moved into the coop, at 10 days the temp run for them was removed. My flock is all young birds, most are under 6 months old with 1 at a year old. My Rooster/s call talk to and feed the chicks. Not the recommended way but its working fantastic for me! Why did I try this, they did not want to come inside and were telling me they belong outside! They are 6 - 8 weeks old and I still have all 23, my last broody started with 10 SLW's and lost 6
And I give my girls a bit of whole corn close to bed time, ever watch a 3 day old chick eat whole corn while running through the older birds to get it!?
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom