Adding to my flock

[Ponte]

Am looking at adding to my small flock of Buff Orpington’s hens who are 17 weeks old. Thinking of getting two Speckled Sussex chicks.

Do the two breeds do well together ?
The B O are free roaming in our yard, eventually the SS will also.

How long should I keep them apart ?

 

[Mrs. K]

I get my chicks in a safety zone in the coop/run around 3 weeks. I find the earlier they are out there the better for them and the integration. After a week, I raise the fencing off the ground, so that it is an escape, so that the tiny chicks can go out, and scoot back in to safety if the real world gets a bit much.

By week 4 I take it down cause everyone has it figured out.

Mrs K

 

[Ponte]

Sounds like a great idea !

 

[aart]

Thinking of getting two Speckled Sussex chicks.

I'd get 3 in case 1 dies.

I brood in coop and integrate by 4-6 weeks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Might want to wait until cooler weather too...
...always assumed you were in Ponte Verda FL but...
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[careeka22]

I have a BO and SS and they do just fine. I just introduced 2 chicks I hatched myself into my flock of 10. I put them in a grow out coop inside the big run in and just let them acclimate for 2 weeks. I then opened the small side door so that the small chicks could get out (8 weeks old) and back in but big hens couldn't. They integrated perfectly. And now baby chicks are in the coop with the big guys.

 

[Chickassan]

Those two breeds should be fine together, you can always get a jerk though no matter the breed.
Agree 100% with @aart get a spare! 110% actually lol! SS are nosy, decent fliers and tend to find trouble....get a spare!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

May want to read this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/