Adding younger chick or older hens to small flock?

[jahphotogal]

Of the six chicks I started out with, one disappeared and one turned out to be a rooster and will be "rehomed." I am thinking of getting two new ones to replace them and I'm trying to figure out what age chicken will integrate into the group better - ones who are younger than what I have now or older ones.

There are two people nearby selling Easter Eggers (which is what the one I lost was) -- I can pick either pullets that are about 3 or 4 weeks younger than the birds I have, or year-old laying hens. Either way I'm going to get two of them, to add to the four I have. Is it easier / better to integrate younger ones, or older ones? My flock is about 9 1/2 weeks old, if that helps!

 

[sumi]

I'd say get the younger chicks. Older chickens are more aggressive and will probably bully your youngsters. Keep the newbies separate for awhile and make sure they don't carry any disease or lice!

 

[krobin04]

I have found that for all our girls, if i take them out of their pen for a night, clean and rearrange things, then put them back with a couple new ones added, they are less territorial. Still squabble but not as much. We have little ones we hatch from incubators and have added to the flock every year.

 

[AlicesSilkies]

Definatley go for the younger ones, they will be so much fun and the younger ones will get along better with you and become really tame

 

[jahphotogal]

My girls are 10 weeks old, and I'd get either 7 week old pullets or year old hens, if that helps!