Adding to my really young flock--Need Advice

[Baralak]

Greetings,

I just started getting back into chickens after about a 25 year vacation... I have 7 hens and 1 roo (hopefully) all just about 4 weeks old. 1 buff orp, 2 barred rocks, 2 EE, 2 Spek Sussex. My roo is a EE. I have the chance to pick up some laying birds about 1 year old (red stars, BR, Silver Laced Wyn, Dom, and Black Astro's. They have a bunch of bantams as well. They are getting out of the biz. I was thinking about getting 3 or 4 of these birds so that I could start getting eggs but don't know about introducing them to my little ugly dyno babies. Thought I would ask the experts.

Thanks for the reply.

Baralak/ ~Joe

 

[ella]

It sounds like you have a great flock started. I have had all of those breeds, just love 'em. My favorite rooster is an EE.

Unfortunetely it's not a great idea for a couple of reasons. Your chicks are too young to merge with adults, the adults will harass and could kill the chicks. Also disease would be a concern. Older chickens from another location could carry any number of diseases and parasites that could be a problem for you.

If you have a place to have them in quarantine for a few months, let the chicks grow, and slowly introduce them to each other it would be ok. Otherwise I think more trouble than it's worth.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree with the above poster. It is much safer to get hatching eggs or chicks that haven't been exposed to disease.

And you'll have to deal with two flocks for awhile, since the older ones will try to kill the younger ones at first, most likely. I still have two flocks that I had bought as chicks, different ages.

But if you are content to have two flocks, and have the space, then go for it, I say!

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I agree, it is hard to introduce two different age groups! I have 5 hens that are 1.5yrs old, I have two 4month old pullets and I have 11 eight week old true Ameraucanas. It has been crazy because I was not really set up for three total different coops. It was very hard to keep them all away from each other. BUT it has been woth it--to get what I wanted. The older girls are still not crazy about the 2 pullets...and it will be months before the Ameraucanas will be able to be introduced --hopefully by winter time they will all be in the big coop... Hopefully others will give you more advice.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

You can get the older hens, but you have to keep the chicks separate until they are at least 8 weeks old.

I just integrated 24 eight chicks with 12, one year old hens, I had only 2 chicks get pecked badly enough to bleed, but they healed fine within the week. My chickens also have 1500 sq. ft. to run in so the chicks could get far away from any hostile hens and the pecking only happened during feeding or when they went to roost and fought over spots on the roosts.

It also helps if the chicks outnumber the hens.

Good luck!

 

[Baralak]

Thank you for your posts.. I believe that I will just pass right now on any new birds... I have found a nice lady about a mile down the street that has some hens and she has a really nice bater. She said she would love to hatch out my eggs. I just aquired several Serama eggs and plan to take them to her. Of course I bought a dozen eggs from her, and will do until my layers start laying.. Going rate here is 2.50/doz.

Baralak/~Joe


My little Dyno Chicks

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

What a gorgeous little coop! What a nice setup you have for your babies!

And oooohhhh Serama eggs!