Arizona Chickens

Happy Holidays to all,
I'm hoping to get a few extra chicks this year...
I'm going to start looking soon as I clear my spare room out, so I can keep the babies warm.
I've never introduced new chicks to a flock though with out a mama hen,
Is there anything special I should prepare to do?
I only have four hens, and will probably get 3-4 new babies.
My coop is about 20x4. but most of the time they free range my backyard, when I don't have a garden to protect.
Thanks

As a general rule, baby chicks should not be introduced to your flock if they haven't been raised by a mama hen, who serves to protect them from the others. Without mama, the adults will more than likely attack and kill the babies. The earliest I've been able to introduce new birds to my flocks is when they reach about 16 weeks of age.
 
As a general rule, baby chicks should not be introduced to your flock if they haven't been raised by a mama hen, who serves to protect them from the others. Without mama, the adults will more than likely attack and kill the babies. The earliest I've been able to introduce new birds to my flocks is when they reach about 16 weeks of age.
16 weeks might be a bit of a stretch for me.. I know they have to be able to keep themselves warm, so the spare room and "chicken hospital" would be good for them for the first 8-10 weeks, after that, the space I have is too small indoors. If it's warm enough I "might" be able to split my coop and separate them for a while... I'll have to see what I can do... So at 16 weeks, they shouldn't have any trouble adjusting? I've never added chickens before that weren't hatched by one of my hens.... and These "araucana's" are not producing well.... I need to add a few more hens
...
 
Honestly i dont know what the chicks eggs color will be. The orpingtons do a lg light brown then the others are a darker brown and blue/green colors so i have no idea what their eggs would be this is my first hatch of the mixes so only time will tell

Cool, I actually was asking what color eggs you were incubating...
I can only imagine that egg color is linked to genetics.... 
My EE's give me very lightly blue tinted eggs, I was hoping for something more colorful.
Someone posted a picture of eggs from a Black Maran, that were dark red almost black, and I am fascinated... and really want one...


@desertmarcy has a dark egg from her flock.
What breed of duck's do you have?
 
I thought I would introduce myself. I'm in New River and we have 6 hens (2 Welsummer, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 Wheaten Ameracauna and 1 Black Sex Link). I would like to add Olive Egger and Isbar to our flock.


1000

There are some breeders in you neck of the wood's. I let them know to private message you..i can't recall their byc screen name. .
 
  16 weeks might be a bit of a stretch for me.. I know they have to be able to keep themselves warm, so the spare room and "chicken hospital" would be good for them for the first 8-10 weeks, after that, the space I have is too small indoors. If it's warm enough I "might" be able to split my coop and separate them for a while...  I'll have to see what I can do... So at 16 weeks, they shouldn't have any trouble adjusting?   I've never added chickens before that weren't hatched by one of my hens.... and These "araucana's" are not producing well.... I need to add a few more hens
... 

I have integrated 8 week olds into my flock. The key is a "look but don't touch" space for the new chicks. Leave them in it for a few days then release to the rest of the flock.
 
I agree. 8-10 weeks is okay as long as they have a place to hide and get away from the big chickens. Mine hid in the nesting boxes. It's not fun to watch but they work things out.
 

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