Advice after losing 2 of 4 chicks

[Ekbrannan]

Hi guys,

I'm brand new so let me know if there is a thread for this. I ordered 4 chicks from a hatchery and 2 were DOA. Should I get straight runs now and figure out what to do with the roos OR wait and get pullets when my 2 are 6-12 weeks? I just want what's best for them. I really wanted some rare breeds that were friendly to me and each other so I had picked these 4 and my future 2-3 pretty carefully.

Edit: Can the pullets range in age when I get them? For example a 17 week Barnevelder and 11 week Orpington?

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you're set on having a total of 4 birds at this time, I would get replacements sooner rather than later, and ideally around the same age bracket - it's much easier to put young chicks with other young chicks close in age and size, rather than putting teens or adults together. Up to about 8 weeks, most chicks will accept newcomers with not too much fuss.

 

[Ekbrannan]

If you're set on having a total of 4 birds at this time, I would get replacements sooner rather than later, and ideally around the same age bracket - it's much easier to put young chicks with other young chicks close in age and size, rather than putting teens or adults together. Up to about 8 weeks, most chicks will accept newcomers with not too much fuss.

I might do that, I just know with my luck I'll end up with 2 roos!

 

[primatologica]

This is similar to what happened to me in April. I started with five chicks (wanted a total of four, so ordered one extra as "insurance") and had very carefully selected my breeds. Two died of omphalitis right away. I ordered three replacement females (now worried about survival rates) from a different hatchery (Meyers) immediately bc I live in a cold area and wanted at least four in the coop over winter. The three replacements arrived a week later, and I was able to integrate them with the original three pretty easily within two weeks (waited a bit bc the new ones were really little at first-chicks grow so fast!). So now I have six healthy, thriving 3-month-olds. I'm hoping they're all pullets! But if they're not, or if I decide I want to downsize to four, I can always re-home some.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I might do that, I just know with my luck I'll end up with 2 roos!

If you're willing to cull the males or any excess birds, might want to get 3-4 new chicks instead, and sell off the extras once they're old enough to sex. It'll increase your chances of getting 4 girls total.