Adding to flock - now or later?

[CoopDeDoo]

Hello!

We are new to chickens - have 4 beautiful 4-week old pullets and we have decided we would like to have 6 total (hens). Would it be best to go ahead and get 2 more now or wait until these are ready to go out into the coop? The girls just moved into their "big girl" brooder and the smaller on is available if they would need to be seperate.

Thanks much for all the great advice on BYC

 

[Mrs. K]

mixing chickens is a trick. You might just be happier at first to stay with the 4 you have until you see how they are going to work in your set up. Adding chickens can alter the flock dynamics. And it you might need to check on your coop/run size. Chickens take up a bit more room when they are are full grown.

But the big concern is you need to add like size to like size, so you cannot add baby chicks to the pullets, most often they would be killed.

If you can keep them separate until they are all the same size, that would work, but sometimes does not.

MrsK

 

[10 point]

If your gpong to keep the 2 chicks seperate from the others it is easier to get the raising chicks part over at the same time.

 

[wingsofglory]

Size means everything to them for rank.

Get two more now. If you wait, you'll have to have separate accomadations for up to 4 to 6 months. I know, I tried.

At one month apart in growth, you'll have less time to wait.

Since size is everything, maybe get a larger breed for the two new chicks. So even if younger, they'll quickly be the same size. Like Brahmas.
And/or a breed that won't take guff off the others, like Delaware or Barred Rock or anything with RIR in it.