Adding another chick

[Braun4]

I have 4 chicks between 3 and 5 weeks. I’d like to add one more around the same age. Is this ok to do at this age, or would they need a more planned out integration?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Do they have a broody hen with them? If they do, no. Don't do it because the mother hen will see it as an intruder and try killing it. If not, then you should be fine. They'll settle a pecking order like any chicken would at first, but it'll be fine.

 

[Braun4]

Do they have a broody hen with them? If they do, no. Don't do it because the mother hen will see it as an intruder and try killing it. If not, then you should be fine. They'll settle a pecking order like any chicken would at first, but it'll be fine.

No hen. All from a farm supply store.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

No hen. All from a farm supply store.

Ok. Then you should be fine to just add it.

 

[Mrs. K]

Do be aware: What seems like a lot of space when they are chicks, can rapidly become not enough space in 4 short months and the birds approach full size. Being raised together will not compensate for not enough space.

If you have a pre-fab chicken coop, they are famous for saying there is enough space for 6 birds, when in reality 2 birds or possible 3 birds are a better fit.

Over crowding causes a lot of very ugly chicken behavior.

Mrs K

 

[Braun4]

Do be aware: What seems like a lot of space when they are chicks, can rapidly become not enough space in 4 short months and the birds approach full size. Being raised together will not compensate for not enough space.

If you have a pre-fab chicken coop, they are famous for saying there is enough space for 6 birds, when in reality 2 birds or possible 3 birds are a better fit.

Over crowding causes a lot of very ugly chicken behavior.

Mrs K

Thanks. Yeah, we bought a pre-fab and promptly decided it wouldn’t be nearly big enough. My hubby is working on building a 16 sq ft coop.

 

[Braun4]

Thanks. Yeah, we bought a pre-fab and promptly decided it wouldn’t be nearly big enough. My hubby is working on building a 16 sq ft coop.

And one of the ones we have now is a cockerel we’re going to have to re-home to some family, so we’ll be left with 4. And hopefully no more cockerels!

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh good, it is hard to believe how big they are going to be, when they are so little. Glad you are prepared. Sometimes chicken math gets people, and you can get very ugly behaviors.