Adding one chicken to my flock

[Ammarie]

I have been raiding 2 chicks to add to my flow of 3. I just discovered At 5 weeks of age that one of my 2 chicks is a rooster. My zoning does not allow roosters.
What is the best way to move forward? I will need to rehome my rooster once he starts crowing, but it seems I should keep him so that my female chick won’t need to be raised alone.
I am especially concerned about integrating just one new chicken into my flock. Does it make any sense to try to get one or two more chicks?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
It is best to add more than one lonely hen or pullet at a time, so getting more would be good.
How many can you have, and have space for in your coop?
Mary

 

[Vickischics]

What type of big girls do you have already and what do you want to add?
My Big girls did not tolerate my Polish addition. Now, I have to keep them separate. Unfortunately, they cornered one in a very unlikely place and left her for dead. She is 3 weeks still recovering in my Infirmary with her GF. I have 6 Big girls and 2 Polish.

 

[Ammarie]

Welcome!
It is best to add more than one lonely hen or pullet at a time, so getting more would be good.
How many can you have, and have space for in your coop?
Mary

I could add a couple more chicks. Would they do okay with my 5 week old?

 

[Ammarie]

What type of big girls do you have already and what do you want to add?
My Big girls did not tolerate my Polish addition. Now, I have to keep them separate. Unfortunately, they cornered one in a very unlikely place and left her for dead. She is 3 weeks still recovering in my Infirmary with her GF. I have 6 Big girls and 2 Polish.

 

[Ammarie]

Big girls are coco maran, amaricaner and black astrolorp. New chick is a bar rock.

 

[Mrs. K]

Add the chick and the rooster together ASAP. Once they are working out safely in the big girls coop, then pull the rooster. A week or so is really all you need. Have you added birds before? Cause there are some tricks to that too.

 

[Ammarie]

This is my first time. Chicks are only 5weeks old though. I have understood I need to wait til they are 3 months or more old.

 

[Vickischics]

Add the chick and the rooster together ASAP. Once they are working out safely in the big girls coop, then pull the rooster. A week or so is really all you need. Have you added birds before? Cause there are some tricks to that too.

Please tell me the tricks because it not turn out so good for me and I thought I did everything I read about.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is my first time. Chicks are only 5weeks old though. I have understood I need to wait til they are 3 months or more old.

Actually easier IMO to add chicks when they're young. With a cockerel as well, you may not have time to wait until he's 12 weeks, integrate him with the pullet, and then remove him, as he could be crowing by then.

Here's my notes on early integration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/ and several other articles are linked there as well for additional ideas. My current batch of chicks have been completely living side by side with the hens since 4 weeks old.