Get chicks or 7 week olds for pets

[JKlafehn]

Hello everyone,

I’m just starting out but I am already adding to my flock. I have Bielefelders that I bought from a breeder. I bought 2 adult layers and 4 baby chicks. I bought the adults so I can have eggs now while the babies grow.
because I have to wait so long for them to start giving us eggs I’m thinking of buying for more. Which brings us to my questions.

I have two options. He will sell me 7 week old chicks for $20 each or newborn chicks for $5 each. It’s a big price difference but I like that I would save nearly 2 months. But my big concern is that the 7 week olds wouldn’t be as friendly to us because no one has been handling them. I want them to be as friendly as possible to my family. Am I overthinking it? Would the 7 week olds be ok?

Lastly, I’d like to be able to add the new ones to the group of chicks I have already. They are currently about 4 weeks old. Any advice on that? I can keep them separate but close for a week so they get used to each other.

 

[aart]

Lastly, I’d like to be able to add the new ones to the group of chicks I have already. They are currently about 4 weeks old. Any advice on that?

I would concentrate on this and not add any more at this time wait until next spring.
Get thru your first winter, which is might trough up there...
....plus your coop is about just right for 6 birds, any more could be pushing it.

This is how I integrate new chicks,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
it takes some ProperPriorPlanning but has worked wonderfully.

Still need to observe some......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[JKlafehn]

My coop is 6' x 6'. With a 1' egg box. So call it 6 x 5. That is 30 Sq ft. Divide that by 3 for 3 sqft per bird that is 10 birds. I assume you are saying I should have more than 3 per bird? I have read a ton of people say that 3 per bird is good.

What does winter have to do with it? I dont want to wait a whole year till I get more.

Ill definitely check out your link!

Thank you for the points. I have definitely heard all of those and I plan to utilize them. Thank you

 

[aart]

I have read a ton of people say that 3 per bird is good.

Yep, and many say that, and many say 4 in coop and 10 in run,
but experience has taught many keepers that it's not enough.

I've had 5-6sqft per bird in a raging frigid winter, it was not pretty.
ChickenCabinFever is Real and it can get Ugly.
Unless your run will be extra large and totally weather and predator proof, best to give them more space.

ETA: Chicken Math is real too, see my signature.

 

[JKlafehn]

I plan on free ranging them as much as possible. I have 20 acres but I live close to the road. I am hoping they are smart enough not to go to the road.

 

[aart]

I plan on free ranging them as much as possible.

That won't help much, especially in those winter storms I mentioned.

I am hoping they are smart enough not to go to the road.

You can hope in one hand......

 

[Mamatomany123]

I wouldnt go any smaller than 4sq ft per chicken. I have 7 and they are in a 10 x 5 coop and a 35x20 run. I've never had a problem with pecking at eachother. And I've actually seen when 2 birds were pissed at eachother and sat one each end of the run and coop. Glad I had that space for them to cool down.

 

[JKlafehn]

I wouldnt go any smaller than 4sq ft per chicken. I have 7 and they are in a 10 x 5 coop and a 35x20 run. I've never had a problem with pecking at eachother. And I've actually seen when 2 birds were pissed at eachother and sat one each end of the run and coop. Glad I had that space for them to cool down.

I was about to leave to go buy 4 more for a total of 10. Really positive I should only go with 4sqft per bird? Final answer?
That would give me 7.5 birds. Lol. Call it 8. Is that really what you guys recommend?

 

[Mamatomany123]

I was about to leave to go buy 4 more for a total of 10. Really positive I should only go with 4sqft per bird? Final answer?
That would give me 7.5 birds. Lol. Call it 8. Is that really what you guys recommend?

I really wouldnt recommend any less than 4sq ft per bird. I still think that a bit small but it's the smallest amount I would comfortably reccomend. Heres my 7 in their coop. I took into account if they would have to spend days inside, for whatever reason. They have plenty of room to not get on each others nerves. (They're also only 8 weeks old so take into consideration what it would look like once they're full grown)

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

I agree with everyone else, you definitely don’t want to push it.