- Jun 11, 2009
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I currently have 5 random-breed chickens that are about 2 months old. We got them newly hatched. I have no idea what they are, but here is what I think they are :
1 white leg horn?
1 speckled ?
1 buff orpington ?
2 who are black with green in their feathers when the sun hits them. ?
I will be adding several birds to my existing flock who are 1 month old and couple who are 3-1/2 months old right now. I will be getting them today.
They are coming from a breeder. Some, the white leg horns, were hatched by her ( the 3-1/2 month olds) and 2 Easter eggers and 2 BLRWs were purchased for her breeding program from a large hatchery (the 4 week olds)
The breeder told me I can add them all together right away but to introduce them at night and keep a close eye on them for fighting and for a couple weeks after they are first introduced to use ocytetracycaline in their water.
This is ideal for me, as I have very limited room to store chickens separately, but on the other hand, I don't want any of my girls to get sick if there is a risk.
I have read the page on introducing and of course, it starts out to keep them separated for at least 4 weeks, but it sounds as if that applies to chicken's you save from an unknown source.....not someone who breeds or gets their breeding stock from a large hatchery.
Here are my questions:
1. If the chickens come from a hatchery or breeder, are they safe to combine with my girls right away or maybe after a day of short introduction where they can see but not touch and then combine in the hen house at night?
2. Are these chickens close enough in age to combine fairly safely? The 3-1/2 month olds are the ones I am the most worried about. They are white leg horns. The 1-month old babies are easter eggers and BLRWs.
3. What methods/ of combining have you found to be the most effective and do you have any suggestions regarding the ages of the chickens and how to integrate everyone the safest way?
Thanks a bunch for helping me!
1 white leg horn?
1 speckled ?
1 buff orpington ?
2 who are black with green in their feathers when the sun hits them. ?
I will be adding several birds to my existing flock who are 1 month old and couple who are 3-1/2 months old right now. I will be getting them today.
They are coming from a breeder. Some, the white leg horns, were hatched by her ( the 3-1/2 month olds) and 2 Easter eggers and 2 BLRWs were purchased for her breeding program from a large hatchery (the 4 week olds)
The breeder told me I can add them all together right away but to introduce them at night and keep a close eye on them for fighting and for a couple weeks after they are first introduced to use ocytetracycaline in their water.
This is ideal for me, as I have very limited room to store chickens separately, but on the other hand, I don't want any of my girls to get sick if there is a risk.
I have read the page on introducing and of course, it starts out to keep them separated for at least 4 weeks, but it sounds as if that applies to chicken's you save from an unknown source.....not someone who breeds or gets their breeding stock from a large hatchery.
Here are my questions:
1. If the chickens come from a hatchery or breeder, are they safe to combine with my girls right away or maybe after a day of short introduction where they can see but not touch and then combine in the hen house at night?
2. Are these chickens close enough in age to combine fairly safely? The 3-1/2 month olds are the ones I am the most worried about. They are white leg horns. The 1-month old babies are easter eggers and BLRWs.
3. What methods/ of combining have you found to be the most effective and do you have any suggestions regarding the ages of the chickens and how to integrate everyone the safest way?
Thanks a bunch for helping me!
