Introducing a "friend" to a chicken

[KM and Ruthie]

Thank you!!!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[Carcajou]

 

[KM and Ruthie]

One more question- We are planning on ordering two chicks- one buff orpington and another different breed. Does anyone have a breed to recommend that is not a bully, but very pretty and docile? (I might like to show it in 4-h)
Thanks!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Thank you so much for getting back!
When I tried before to combine them, Ruthie had part of her comb torn apart by the others. She is the friendliest and best chicken, and i don't want her to have to go through that. Would you recommend getting just a single chick, or two? while they would still be little, should I have them around Ruthie, but protected with a fence in between them so they can get used to each other?

This is actually the safest way to integrate new birds. Once the new youngsters are old enough to be outside, make an area for them alongside the older hen. Let her get used to seeing them around every day for a few weeks at least. Simply dumping 8 week old or younger chicks in with a mature hen is a real good way for the chicks to be seriously injured. Chickens do not accept new birds easily and chicks are defenseless against a hen. If you simply give them some time, with a fence between them, to get used to each other your integration issues will be minimized. It also helps a lot to wait until the chicks are almost the same size as the older bird and better able to defend against the normal pecking order issues that are going to take place.

When I have new chicks they move to their grow out pen at 5 weeks old and stay there until they are 15 weeks old. The older birds are housed right alongside so they see them in the run every day, all day. By the time I let them all out together I have almost no pecking issues and the flocks blend very easily. It is well, well worth the extra time to integrate slowly.

I would also get three chicks rather then two. If one should die you don't want to be raising a lonely, single chick in the brooder by itself for 5 or 6 weeks.

 

[drumstick diva]

I was thinking a Salmon Faverolles might be a good companion for Ruthie, they are generally docile, and in fact ones that get picked on by other breeds.

 

[KM and Ruthie]

So... I ordered two chicks. They both were supposed to come today, but there was a mix-up with the order so only 1 came. Is it fine to keep that one by itself while waiting for the other one?

 

[KM and Ruthie]

Never mind!!! I just brought home 2 chicks- a Buff Orpington and a Silver Laced Cochin!!!!!
Thanks!

 

[VirtueChick]

Good luck!