Integrating a new chick?

[jettgirl24]

Right now I've got four chicks that are 4 1/2 weeks old. They were sexed but alas I still ended up with one roo. I'm planning on keeping the roo but I really wanted four hens so we'd have enough eggs for the family. I'm thinking of picking up another chick this afternoon if the feed store has some slightly older ones. Is it a bad idea to get just one new one? Does anyone have advice on a minimum age for the new chick? I don't want to have to keep it separated for too long by itself because it will be lonely so is there any advice for introducing it to the others?

Thanks!

 

[Kelly G]

I think at this age (4.5 weeks) it might be risky to introduce a new chick that is only a few days old. You'd probably be able to do it if you could house the new chick in close proximity to the older chicks until they "get use to eachother." I would do this for at least a week. And when you do add in the younger chick, keep an eye on them to make sure they are not being too rough on the little one....four older chicks against one smaller, younger chick can be tough odds!

It can be done - just don't rush it, and monitor for any problems.