Advice please! Add hen now or wait for spring?

[HaHaFarms]

Hi friends, so here’s my dilemma… This spring we decided to add two pullets to our group of three hens… Those pullets are now five months old and I have a picture of one of them posted in the gender section for some expert advice… Pretty sure we have a Cockerell on our hands! Sadly, my community does not allow roosters. My predicament is whether or not to get the other new chicken a friend before winter. The other three hens are gradually acccepting of these two But they are still separated at night. I live in Minnesota, it gets cold and all girls need to be in the same coop before the snow flies. Once I find a home for my probable boy, do I merge the little girl with the bigger girls at night? Or leave her alone for a little while longer in the small coop? She is very curious about the big coop so she might be ready! And what about getting her a friend… Do I just leave the 4 as they are and wait until spring or pick up a replacement now so they can acclimate before winter? The farm where I got them is willing to exchange my Rooster for red sex link But That is my only choice and I would like your advice.Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would hang on to the cockerel for a bit. I would get the pair of birds added to the big girls, and after that is a true go, then pull the rooster. Adding a single bird in tight quarters in a small flock can be very difficult. Everyone else is going to get a peck on the new one.

They will still have a ruckus, but it will be spread out over two birds, and a bird can only do so much. If you have been in a see but no touch, I think I would add them and get this part done asap. At five months old, she will soon be laying. Once she is laying she will blend in with the other hens, and then you can pull the cockerel.

That will solve all your problems, as she will be with a flock, and comfy and not lonely for the winter. She won't even notice the other bird is gone. I would not add another single bird now. Wait to get through the winter, chances are you might loose one or two, and then could add more in the spring with the space.

Mrs K

 

[True Patriot]

I would wait also. Mrs K has given some good advice. Additionally, getting chicks now might not be ready to move to the coop before weather changes, leaving you with a new set of problems. Getting the single bird from the breeder now will lead to the integration issues already noted.

 

[HaHaFarms]

Thank you both very much, this is very sound and logical advice! I will integrate them all now and then remove my boy when they’re all settled and get him to a new home. I agree I feel that waiting until spring is the best idea! Thank you both again so so much, and so thankful to have backyard chickens.com as such a fantastic resource!

 

[Pugsabi]

Unless you can get a single bird at a comparable age to the new girl from the same breeder and have enough time to integrate them together before trying to move them in with the big girls, I would do as Mrs. K suggests.

 

[Morrigan]

I would hang on to the cockerel for a bit. I would get the pair of birds added to the big girls, and after that is a true go, then pull the rooster. Adding a single bird in tight quarters in a small flock can be very difficult. Everyone else is going to get a peck on the new one.

They will still have a ruckus, but it will be spread out over two birds, and a bird can only do so much. If you have been in a see but no touch, I think I would add them and get this part done asap. At five months old, she will soon be laying. Once she is laying she will blend in with the other hens, and then you can pull the cockerel.

That will solve all your problems, as she will be with a flock, and comfy and not lonely for the winter. She won't even notice the other bird is gone. I would not add another single bird now. Wait to get through the winter, chances are you might loose one or two, and then could add more in the spring with the space.

Mrs K

Great advice.