Hey everyone!! Newest member here.

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IrishLad61

IrishLad61

Songster
Feb 10, 2019
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Morgantown, WV
Greetings to all. I'm retired US Army Infantry, who also spent 10 years working in a maximum security prison. I decided enough was enough and although I still work, it's now with people I enjoy being around. The wife n I are relatively new to raising chickens (6 months or so). We have 2, 1 a RIR and another unknown breed, but speckled looking. We plan on getting 2 more chicks in the spring and putting them in our current coop, which will give me time this winter to build a larger one for our older girls. I'm amazed how vocal they are and the significant personality differences. We LOVE fresh eggs!! and the difference in taste is amazing. I'm really looking forward to asking and learning. Talk to ya'll later!
 
2byc-picket-fence.png

Do you plan keep your new birds and old birds together eventually? If you get baby chicks they can actually be fully integrated by 4-5 weeks old, if done properly. Hatchery/feed store chicks come with little to no risk of bringing in disease or parasites. If your coop is big enough, they can be brooded right in there with the older ones with just a temporary barrier in between. Introducing little ones to an established flock is actually waaay easier than waiting until they're bigger or the same size (which for some weird reason always seems to be the suggestion). The smaller they are, the less of a threat they seem (more like just an annoyance) and the quicker they blend together.

I raised mine with the Mama Heating Pad method inside the coop (no heat lamp) and sectioned off the lower part under the poop tray as a temporary brooder. At first I had a hardware cloth divider:
brooder2-5:30 2.jpg


Then at about 2-3 weeks old I switched to this picket fence with 3½" spaces which gave the chicks access to come and go, but still kept the grown hens out. Then they were completely off heat and roosting with the big girls at 4-5 weeks old.
integrating-chicks.jpg


Here are some articles that explain the process in greater detail:
Integrating at 4 weeks old
You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors
But feel free to ask me any questions!
 

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