Backyard Flock in Saint Paul, MN

[Dr Evy]

Welcome to BYC neighbor! I’m from MN too.
I’m so glad you joined and it’s great to meet you!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined! Definitely cockerels.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us!

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, welcome to BYC! good luck with your birds.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[LadyLaurila]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I had a feeling these beauties were cockerels. Unfortunately roosters are prohibited in Saint Paul. We have dear friends with 80 acres in western MN who are willing to take them for us so they can continue to live a happy life with even more space!

Anyone have experience adding new hens to an existing flock? Is it best to utilize young chicks or would pullets around the same age be okay?

 

[janiedoe]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I had a feeling these beauties were cockerels. Unfortunately roosters are prohibited in Saint Paul. We have dear friends with 80 acres in western MN who are willing to take them for us so they can continue to live a happy life with even more space!

Anyone have experience adding new hens to an existing flock? Is it best to utilize young chicks or would pullets around the same age be okay?

I personally will not bring adults into my flock. Reasons are:
1. It is easy to introduce a disease into your flock
2. It is so much easier to introduce chicks. I raise mine in a brooder inside my run. When they are a couple of weeks old, I can let them start having supervised time with the big flock.
3. It is much less stressful for your flock and for you, to introduce chicks.
4. You are less likely to get someone else's problem hen (the one who bullies everyone, eats eggs, etc.)

 

[LadyLaurila]

I personally will not bring adults into my flock. Reasons are:
1. It is easy to introduce a disease into your flock
2. It is so much easier to introduce chicks. I raise mine in a brooder inside my run. When they are a couple of weeks old, I can let them start having supervised time with the big flock.
3. It is much less stressful for your flock and for you, to introduce chicks.
4. You are less likely to get someone else's problem hen (the one who bullies everyone, eats eggs, etc.)

This is so so helpful! Thanks for the great pointers, all makes sense!