Adding 3 pullets to a small “flock”

[CluckerFamily]

I was just thinkinng the same thing @black_cat
Prefab coops state that they can fit 4-6 chickens but they don't tell the complete truth on this, halving their number is a better estimate.

 

[Mrs. K]

I really get them in there much earlier. About 3-4 weeks. Do take them outside, as often as you can. Chicks really past a week old benefit from being cooler, and then being able to warm up. I often take mine outside for 15 -20 minutes in fairly cool weather, near 30 degrees. Then let them back in and get a good warm up, and they will take good naps, just like kids. Fresh air and sunshine are good for chicks.

And in your brooder have places, where it is much cooler, and places where it is much warmer.

As for your very lovely roosters... the problem with cockerels, their behavior today is no indicator of their behavior tomorrow or next week. It might not ever go south, or it might be a nightmare. Do have something set up so that you could separate them. And beware, sometimes very friendly rooster chicks, loose all respect for people, and have been known to become people aggressive. This board is full of stories where the darling becomes the nightmare, just beware, especially if you have small children.

They are flashy birds, you might be able to re-home one or both of them, if you have to...I know you are hoping and wishing, but that really does not work with chickens, and to be honest, two cockerels are about to become an awful lot for your pullet to take. Chicken raising is about tough decisions.

good luck, but plan for a way to separate the roosters from each other, or from the pullet until you have a lot more full grown chickens. Personally to have two roosters, I would want 25 chickens, but many on here have gotten by with less.

Mrs K

 

[CluckerFamily]

On the contrary, I would recommend handling your chicks, but that is really personal preference.

For some people they do handle the chicks more. I find that I don't need to. Each member of my flock knows their own name and they each will come when I call their name. It is crazy sometimes, they respond to their names even if they are about to head somewhere and I say that one's name, that one will stop mid-step to turn to look at me while the rest of the flock goes about their business, and all I have to say is "get back here" and that one will come back to the rest of the flock. If people would pull into the driveway, they could be entertained for a long time with me talking to the flock and them responding, it is hilarious! And it gives me great stories to share.

 

[black_cat]

For some people they do handle the chicks more. I find that I don't need to. Each member of my flock knows their own name and they each will come when I call their name. It's is crazy sometimes, they respond to their names even if they are about to head somewhere and I say that one's name, that one will stop mid-step to turn to look at me while the rest of the flock goes about their business, and all I have to say is "get back here" and that one will come back to the rest of the flock. If people would pull into the driveway, they could be entertained for a long time with me talking to the flock and them responding, it is hilarious! And it gives me great stories to share.

They're too cute and fluffy for me NOT to handle, to be honest. That's so cool that your flock responds to you like that!!!! I wish mine would do that. I got them as adults and I am at the stage of 'I'm not evil just let me hold you to make sure you don't have bumblefoot' with a couple, and 'i'm your friend!!! stop flapping!! I"M YOUR FRIEND" with the other two.

 

[Wenwye]

I am definitely more of the cuddle with my chickens kids of person.
I will measure the coop tomorrow. I can’t remember the dimensions. The guy who had it before us had 10 chickens in it although I cannot imagine that many fitting inside. Our run isn’t large either, but we don’t really confine the chickens in the run ever. I do put the food and water in the run, but the door stays open while we are home during the day (which is almost constant these days).

I really hope the roosters can coexist. I know they are super young still and things may change. Since they are basically pets, it would be so sad to have to give one up. We shall see.

 

[black_cat]

I am definitely more of the cuddle with my chickens kids of person.
I will measure the coop tomorrow. I can’t remember the dimensions. The guy who had it before us had 10 chickens in it although I cannot imagine that many fitting inside. Our run isn’t large either, but we don’t really confine the chickens in the run ever. I do put the food and water in the run, but the door stays open while we are home during the day (which is almost constant these days).

I really hope the roosters can coexist. I know they are super young still and things may change. Since they are basically pets, it would be so sad to have to give one up. We shall see.

That would NOT fit 10 chickens. Good for you for not following in his footsteps.

 

[CluckerFamily]

They're too cute and fluffy for me NOT to handle, to be honest. That's so cool that your flock responds to you like that!!!! I wish mine would do that. I got them as adults and I am at the stage of 'I'm not evil just let me hold you to make sure you don't have bumblefoot' with a couple, and 'i'm your friend!!! stop flapping!! I"M YOUR FRIEND" with the other two.

I find that chicks trust faster if a giant claw like object doesn't come into their safety zone too much. At least, that is what I imagine they are chirping about when I reach in to clean the brooder.
I haven't had the luck of hatching or purchasing chicks that turn out to be roosters so I have had to adopt my roosters. It takes them some time to trust you when they are adults, depending on the home they come from, but it does happen as long as you move according to their comfort level. My process for see and no touch helps also because they are forced to have me move them to the morning outside area and coop at night and I only hold them for a little amount of time.

 

[black_cat]

I find that chicks trust faster if a giant claw like object doesn't come into their safety zone too much. At least, that is what I imagine they are chirping about when I reach in to clean the brooder.
I haven't had the luck of hatching or purchasing chicks that turn out to be roosters so I have had to adopt my roosters. It takes them some time to trust you when they are adults, depending on the home they come from, but it does happen as long as you move according to their comfort level. My process for see and no touch helps also because they are forced to have me move them to the morning outside area and coop at night and I only hold them for a little amount of time.

I've always interacted with chicks reaching in from the side, and they don't seem to mind it as much.
Mine came from a questionable home but are doing much better now.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I've always interacted with chicks reaching in from the side, and they don't seem to mind it as much.
Mine came from a questionable home but are doing much better now.

Oh defiantly reach in from the side! My brooder is plenty big enough that it shouldn't bother them but they still chirp/talk but this could also be that I talk to them all the time anyways when they are in the brooder and they are just talking back. Sometimes I am really good at know what they are thinking and wanting and other times, I wish there was a machine that would tell me what all their chirps mean.

 

[Wenwye]

That would NOT fit 10 chickens. Good for you for not following in his footsteps.

I found a similar setup on Facebook Marketplace for $200 so I might get it as a backup. I think 6 will be maximum capacity for sure.
Any input on having 2 coops versus 1 big one? Will it prevent bonding if they sleep in different coops?