Chicken Math...integration...quarantine

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Informative thread. Sorry Urchickchic that you missed that opportunity. I have 5 pullets that are 9 months old and laying very well. I would like to add 2 more to my little flock to tide me over when my little ladies go into their first molt. The thought of eating grocery store eggs again scares me. I'm not interested in the eggs as making money, just like to produce as much of my own food as possible. I will happily welcome all the advice. I have a rooster/cockerel only because he was one of the 6 chicks I purchased at the farm store, but he is a good boy so I'll be keeping him. Thank you all for sharing your chicken wisdom. By the way, I'm thinking I would prefer older chicks, perhaps feathered.

 

[aart]

By the way, I'm thinking I would prefer older chicks, perhaps feathered.

IMO young chicks are easier to integrate, if you're setup to brood(heat) in the coop(start thinking how now).
Older birds are harder to integrate, takes more space, and bring the risk of pests and disease.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

IMO young chicks are easier to integrate, if you're setup to brood(heat) in the coop(start thinking how now).
Older birds are harder to integrate, takes more space, and bring the risk of pests and disease.

I won't setup the brooder with heat lamp in the coop - way too much dust. It would likely be less expensive and less hassle for me to get feathered chicks in early summer and add a small ready-made coop to house them and integrate slowly. I've considered incubating some of my own pullets eggs, but that would give me the dilemma of brooding again. A lot to consider. I guess what would be ideal is to find a broody hen and let her handle the warming.

 

[Folly's place]

I never bring in outside birds, only chicks from safe hatcheries, already Marek's vaccinated, or birds hatched here. Raising chicks is fun! Invest in a brooder plate and go for it, and get some birds that look interesting.
Mary

 

[aart]

I won't setup the brooder with heat lamp in the coop

I don't use a heat lamp in coop...and get the chicks outside by week two so no dust in house(or rather way less).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I don't use a heat lamp in coop...and get the chicks outside by week two so no dust in house(or rather way less).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

OK, I'm convinced. I just ordered a very small incubator and a small brooder mat. I want to use my own eggs so I can keep the RIR thing going. I would consider adding leghorns in the future. I like the idea of cold hearty dual purpose breeds. I don't plan on "consuming" my chickens right now, however, I think it's a good idea to keep my options open. I have a 3 ft x 3 ft area in the coop that is above where I store the feed and shavings that I originally had planned to use as a brooding area. Just so you know, I'll be leaning on you for "coaching" t get me through this first time. I'll take a look at the articles you noted. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I never bring in outside birds, only chicks from safe hatcheries, already Marek's vaccinated, or birds hatched here. Raising chicks is fun! Invest in a brooder plate and go for it, and get some birds that look interesting.
Mary

I'm quite fond of my red beauties. I have a healthy cockerel so I'll be using my own home grown eggs.

 

[Headhen3]

I went from just a few chickens to about 90 right now. I have taken in two sets of 11 to 14 hens at a time to rehome them. Last year I raised about 50 chicks and integrated them into my existing flock at about 16 weeks. I have hens that are not quite a year old to a couple that must be pushing 8 years. People ask what I do with the hens that no longer lay or only infrequently and I tell them we have a pension plan. In return for all those eggs they have a home for life. I also have 5 roosters. They each have their own set of hens and I do not see any fighting among them. Even on twenty acres I don’t quarantine too much but maybe I’ve just been lucky. I am in northern Ohio. Good luck and remember that chickens are like potato chips.

 

[aart]

OK, I'm convinced. I just ordered a very small incubator and a small brooder mat. I want to use my own eggs so I can keep the RIR thing going. I would consider adding leghorns in the future. I like the idea of cold hearty dual purpose breeds. I don't plan on "consuming" my chickens right now, however, I think it's a good idea to keep my options open. I have a 3 ft x 3 ft area in the coop that is above where I store the feed and shavings that I originally had planned to use as a brooding area. Just so you know, I'll be leaning on you for "coaching" t get me through this first time. I'll take a look at the articles you noted. Thanks again for your help.

Brooder mat?
If you hatch, you will get ~50% males...and you might want to think about eating them.

 

[Headhen3]

Ventilation - every time I am tempted to seal up my barn a little more I end up remembering the huge difference between horses and hens and how absolutely critical fresh air is no matter what time of year it is. I’m sure my pride of barn cats don’t quite agree but . . . They don’t pay anything towards their food!