Adding new chickens

[Stephen8787]

Hey everyone! I have 36 laying hens right now and have 60 chicks that I plan to add. I don’t know the ratio of hens or roosters. I built a brooder inside the coop to have them in there to start getting use to them. I was wondering at what age I can put them all together. I have heard 8 weeks but also when they are the same size but the brooder is only big enough till 8 weeks roughly.

 

[C Siena]

Hey everyone! I have 36 laying hens right now and have 60 chicks that I plan to add. I don’t know the ratio of hens or roosters. I built a brooder inside the coop to have them in there to start getting use to them. I was wondering at what age I can put them all together. I have heard 8 weeks but also when they are the same size but the brooder is only big enough till 8 weeks roughly.

I'm by no means knowledgeable compared to so many members but I'm online now.
Good ratio of hens to rooster is at least 10 hens for a rooster. It can be higher but try not much lower as the roo can over mate and the hens will lose feathers on their back.

Not all roos get along, if you're going to free range. We have 2 that are in separate coops but they get along for the most part, when they are free ranging all day every day. Others can comment on keeping more than 1 male in a coop with hens. With our flock I would not do it. 17 laying hens, 6 - 3 month old pullets, 12 - 2.25 month pullets and 2 roos.

Search the Forums and Articles and you will find that many brood in the coop from hatch or as soon as they get the chicks (3 days old), using a heat source as needed. I have integrated at 4-5 weeks, because I didn't read all the info on this site. Next time, I'm putting the chicks in the coop/brooder at 1 week. After a couple of weeks of "see no touch", you are close to integration time.