I just got 6 Buff O's on Monday. This is my first time raising chicks and I love them. Now I want more. Is that bad? How many is too many? I want to get a few easter eggers now. Can they be put together with my BO if they are the same size? I could seperate them easily if need be. Do breeds fight other breeds? Are EE's cold hardy? Our coop will be insulated w/ electricity etc. 8x8x8h. Am I jumping the gun? Sorry for alll these questions. ETA: The BO's were born on 4/28.
I have EEs and Buff Os together with no problem. I am not sure what the size requirement is per bird. Someone will be able to tell you though. Dont feel bad I started out with 10 in Feb, now I have 21! Its an addiction! Edited to add...yes buffs are cold hearty, thats why I have them.
Hiya! i'm a super newbie as well, but I have added baby chicks to 3 week old ones, ad today a baby to 4 week old and 1 week olds. So I don't think a few weeks is a huge problem- but what I have done is this... I put the babies in a new or different brooder- but such that the chickens can hear, and maybe almost see each other. Then I leave them like that for an hour or two. Then I put the old chicks in the new chicks' brooder. None of the newbies has gotten picked on yet. Granted, though I've done small numbers. I don't know how it would be with larger numbers of chicks.
If they're close to the same age, you can put them together, but if they came from different sources you'll want to keep them separate until you know for sure the newbies are healthy. EEs do well up here. I have one, but she's really unreliable as far as egg laying goes. I've heard others say they lay really well... I think I just got a dud. You can never have too many chickens... but, if you don't have your coop ready by the time they're old enough to go outside, you could be in trouble. Like me... I have two roosters having crowing wars in the garage right now... gotta go work on the coop... I started with 10... last count we were up to 94 birds, chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail, and over 100 eggs in the incubator with more coming next week!!!
I have both breeds and they are fine together. It's mostly about ages and when to mix. My EEgrs are pretty cold hardy. I'm certain that my temps aren't nearly as cold as yours, but they seem okay with single digits outside. Their combs are small, which is really good. Am I jumping the gun? I always jump the gun so I'm not the person to ask. I love them all and that's that. Enjoy!!
No one warned you about the disease chicks carry? Surely someone told you that if you get them just once you are doomed forever to get more and more and more. As for having too many.... Not possible. Oh...do not seek treatment for the chick disease either...there is no help, no cure and you are surrounded by enablers here. So get a few more Look to your heavy breeds for cold hardy....the EEs should do fine. Since you are insulating and so forth you should be okay with just about any standard except for the ones who are not cold hardy and are pron to frost biteen combs. Research your breeds and pick what is right for you and your climate.
Well, I got two Barred Rocks. Born the same day as my BO's. He didn't have any EE's that small. They are so cute!
Good! I have been watching them to see how they interact with the Buff O's. They have made themselves at home. They have a little pertch about 4 inches high to play on and the Barred Rocks have been up and down every 10 minutes or so, having a great time. They seem to be less shy than the Buff O's. I think my first chicken family is complete. I think.