Adding chicks to my coop

[Chickynurse]

I am new to the chicken world. After losing 3 babies within 48 hours, we were left with 5 babies. They are now 3 weeks old, but we suffered another blow. A black snake got my 2 smallest( Easter egger and buff orphingtons) yesterday. After putting some bullet holes in that bast###, and putting mothballs out, we want to add to our 3 remaining chicks. Any suggestions on the best way to add the news ones? Should we get chicks that are 3 weeks, or newly hatched? Our chicks are still in brooder, so a little concerned on the best way to do this.

 

[scali1971]

The snake got them in a brooder? If the brooder is outside you may want to attach hardware cloth to the opening

 

[gimmie birdies]

three weeks old is old to add new ones. I had one that was 2 weeks old and added 8 new babies, but there were more young ones to the older chick. the older chick just stood there and did'nt know what to do with so many new babies.

 

[donrae]

Your're right on the edge of the age range I'm comfortable adding chicks. You'd either want to get same age chicks, or just run another brooder for a few weeks until the little are 3-4 weeks old, they should all be able to be together then.

I'm also wondering how a snake got them in the brooder? What is your set up?