Chick minimum to add to flock of 5?

[gabigirl21]

Hey all,

Not me just obsessing over my chick orders….

Currently have a pretty docile flock of five with Barred rock, Black australorp, Buff Orpington, and 2 Easter eggers. They just started laying last week FINALLY.

I want to add 2 chicks this spring (olive egger and black copper maran), however is this too few? I was going to brood them in the coop to help with integration.

I’m willing to get a third chick, just trying to keep the chicken noise level down for when they lay (to keep neighbor and partner happy). For some reason 8 seems so much more compared to 7 (especially when compared to the 5 I have now). My new girls do a lot of going to lay an egg but then yelling intermittently for an hour…I’m assuming they’re still trying to work out the kinks.

Thanks!

 

[HappyClucker7]

Hey all,

Not me just obsessing over my chick orders….

Currently have a pretty docile flock of five with Barred rock, Black australorp, Buff Orpington, and 2 Easter eggers. They just started laying last week FINALLY.

I want to add 2 chicks this spring (olive egger and black copper maran), however is this too few? I was going to brood them in the coop to help with integration.

I’m willing to get a third chick, just trying to keep the chicken noise level down for when they lay (to keep neighbor and partner happy). For some reason 8 seems so much more compared to 7 (especially when compared to the 5 I have now). My new girls do a lot of going to lay an egg but then yelling intermittently for an hour…I’m assuming they’re still trying to work out the kinks.

Thanks!

I have successfully introduced two new chickens into an established flock. You just have to go slow with the introduction and give plenty of places for the new chickens to get away from the older ones.

 

[Farmlife16]

I agree with HappyClucker7. One thing to think about is, what if a chick dies during shipping? It wouldn't be the end of the world, but I wouldn't recommend integrating one chicken. It might be a good idea to get an extra chick just in case you lose one. Just a thought.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree with HappyClucker7. One thing to think about is, what if a chick dies during shipping? It wouldn't be the end of the world, but I wouldn't recommend integrating one chicken. It might be a good idea to get an extra chick just in case you lose one. Just a thought.

x2. For this reason I'd say 3 minimum. Even though I told hubby I'm only getting 2 next time... he knows it'll be 3. Or 4.

 

[gabigirl21]

x2. For this reason I'd say 3 minimum. Even though I told hubby I'm only getting 2 next time... he knows it'll be 3. Or 4.

Hahaha, our poor men tied to crazy chicken ladies. I failed to mention I’ll be getting them at one of my local feed stores who has a kick-butt chicken program. My plan was to run out and grab another if a chick dies.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hahaha, our poor men tied to crazy chicken ladies. I failed to mention I’ll be getting them at one of my local feed stores who has a kick-butt chicken program. My plan was to run out and grab another if a chick dies.

I've done that before, back when I was more certain I'd be able to pick up another chick from the same hatch batch. Chicks have been selling out much quicker as of late, so that puts a damper on that for me.

 

[gabigirl21]

I've done that before, back when I was more certain I'd be able to pick up another chick from the same hatch batch. Chicks have been selling out much quicker as of late, so that puts a damper on that for me.

Ah, good to know! This store gets hundreds of chicks weekly so I *think* it’ll be alright, I’ll just have to accept that it may not be the breed I want. We’ll see. It may be I get 2 BCMs after all…

 

[3KillerBs]

How big is your coop? Integration goes best with plenty of extra space.

How sentimental are you? I've had good success with raising twice as many as I actually wanted then selling the extras as started or POL pullets via Craigslist.

 

[aart]

How big is your coop? Integration goes best with plenty of extra space.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[3KillerBs]

My thoughts exactly.

Everything that has happened in re: my flock this past year has made me glad to have over-sized facilities.

Including the current 30-day Avian Flu lockdown here in NC.