Buy 8 week chicks or day old ones?

[Raisingplenty]

I have 4 7 week old chicks. 3 are possible Roos. I need more hens! I don’t know how to best go about doing this. I could raise more chicks or buy 8 weekers. Can y’all share the downs/ ups of these options? From their temperament to introducing them, which is better? Thank you so much for the insight!

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

Pros of 8 weeks-
-Don’t have to brood them
-Not as many pecking order issues
-Better luck getting all hens

Cons of 8 weeks-
-Might not be warmed up to people
-Have to spend more time with them to get them to like you.

I really don’t know what to tell you but I’ve always gotten day olds to week olds but I might be getting some 8 week olds really soon. I think 8 week olds would be easier because you can just put them in the coop and they are the same size as your other chicks. Also it would lower the chance of you having to deal with any pecking injuries or stuff like that. Also do you have the time to brood more chicks, that’s a big factor. Best of luck
-ChickenWhisperer101

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

I really hope this helps

 

[Raisingplenty]

Thanks! I do have time to raise them but wondering how easy it will be to introduce them to the other hen and roo? If I get 8 weekers, how long would it take to intro them? Do I just put them in with the others?

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

I would separate them for like a few hours or so and but let them see each other them take the fence/barrier away and let them see each other. That’s how I would do it anyways. Just watch them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Due to the age of your other birds, it would be easiest to get birds of similar age. They're right at the age where they may accept one another if you simply threw them all in together.

There is some risk with adding older birds as they're more likely to be vectors for disease compared to newly hatched chicks. But on the plus side, yes you're much more likely to get pullets.

 

[papajoesfarm]

This depends on what you have for resources. If you have a dedicated brooder apart from your main coop/run, then go for day old chicks. It won't cost as much as 8 week olds, and you are less likely to have problems with introducing diseases into your flock. With 8 week old teen-age chickens, you would want to quarentine them first to be safe. Many small flock owners do not have the facilities to quarentine properly. So day olds will be cheaper in the long run, AND safer for your main flock. Stay away from Straight Run, and go for sexed pullets. Or just buy a Sex Link breed - That way, you would be 100% sure of getting pullets.

As far as your possible Roos - at 7 weeks you still cannot be sure. Not until they crow. Too many times you are just SURE that you have a Roo. And then "he" lays an egg!

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Did you post photos for people to help guess pullet vs cockerel? If they are different breeds, sometimes the differences in comb types and stuff can make things confusing.

 

[Raisingplenty]

Did you post photos for people to help guess pullet vs cockerel? If they are different breeds, sometimes the differences in comb types and stuff can make things confusing.

I have. The link is Here. I also have a golden comet *I believe, and it looks like it’s a girl. But I don’t know for sure. You can see her Here. She was younger there.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Yeah, it doesn't look good.

I'm assuming since your current birds are mixes that they aren't vaccinated for Mareks, which does make it more of a risk to bring in new pullets who could be carrying it. The safest (and cheapest) bet would be to get new baby chicks, but that's a lot of work...you'd have to keep them separate, then introduce your two "flocks," and in the meantime if you have to get rid of your cockerels you'd have a lonely pullet.

If you decide to risk it and get older pullets, it would be much easier. In that case, I'd find someone NPIP certified selling a sex linked or auto-sexing breed who has pullets about the same age as yours. Or do your research on how to tell pullets and cockerels apart for the breed you want if they aren't sexed. Honestly, it's best to know regardless since every once in a while someone tries to scam people to get extra cockerels off their hands. I'd personally get non-vaccinated (assuming your current chickens aren't), since that way if they had Mareks they'd be sick and not silently carrying germs. (This does mean they are at risk of catching and dying of Marek's in the future though.)

A third option would be to just start over. Sell/give away your current chickens and start fresh with whatever age/breed you want. Depends if you are attached to them or just looking for the easiest way to get fresh eggs.