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adding a hen

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by stoneeater, May 15, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. May 15, 2011 #1
    stoneeater

    stoneeater Out Of The Brooder

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    Mar 9, 2011
    Jacksonville, Fl.
    I have 2 Australorps. I bought them as sexed by the hatchery pullets at the end of march when they were maybe a week old. Now they're around 7-8 weeks old and I strongly suspect one is a roo even though he hasn't crowed yet. So he should need more hens so he won't abuse my single hen correct? I don't think he will be chasing down the bantam hens at all will he? So on craigslist; someone is offering a BA hen that is almost ready to lay, so maybe around 16-20 weeks?
    Will the age difference be an issue at first? The bantams they live with are at most 11-12 weeks old.
    How long should she be quarenteened?
    When going to inspect a hen, are there signs you should look for as far as the health goes?
    Any answers to other questions that I haven't thought of yet?
    Ooh! What would you feed her? Everyone else is on medicated chick feed still. Grower with an oyster shell option?
     
  3. May 15, 2011 #2
    Judy

    Judy Moderator Staff Member

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    Feb 5, 2009
    South Georgia
    Grower (or flock raiser) with an oyster shell option is just what I feed my whole flock all the time. Chicks don't get harmful calcium, roosters don't get more calcium than they need, and my eggshells are fine. Here's a good writeup on integrating chickens:

    https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

    Actually if I were going to do this, after the quarantine, I would then put one of my own in with the new bird and still keep them separate for another 2 or 3 weeks. That way if either had a disease without symptoms, it would be more likely to show up.
     
  5. May 15, 2011 #3
    stoneeater

    stoneeater Out Of The Brooder

    99
    0
    39
    Mar 9, 2011
    Jacksonville, Fl.
    Wow. That was a great link.
    I don't think I want an adult chicken now.
    Unfortunately for my wife; the feedstore has baby aussies in. [​IMG]
    I wonder if she'll notice the brooder back in the bathroom.[​IMG]
     

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