If you don't mind going through the brooder stage another time, you can add to your flock if more than 1 turns out to be a roo. We were new to chickens last year. We had 1 chick given to us and bought 3 more a week later to keep her company. Then a month later gave in to the cuteness and bought 3 more. We kept the 3 youngest ones separate from the older 4 until they were almost the same size. I wanted to keep them separate until the younger ones were 16 weeks but didn't have an outdoor brooder or an extra coop. So we put them with the older ones at about 14 weeks. We just made sure that they had an area in the run that they could go in to escape the older birds. I made a corner hide out with large paver blocks with a board on top. The openings were small to keep the big girls out. It took a few weeks of adjustment and there was some pecking but no blood. Now they are all buddies. We currently have 9 chicks in the brooder and all but 2 are straight run chicks from breeders. The roos we will have to rehome but the pullets will be joining the big girl flock at around 16 weeks of age.
Also, two of our chickens from last year are SLW from a hatchery. They both reddened up early in the combs and wattles. We worried that they were roos up until 16-17 weeks of age. Oh the joys of chicken parenthood!
Also, two of our chickens from last year are SLW from a hatchery. They both reddened up early in the combs and wattles. We worried that they were roos up until 16-17 weeks of age. Oh the joys of chicken parenthood!
