Introducing same age chicks

[BethMatt]

We have (what we think are) 2 Roo's & 4 hens at 6 weeks old. The plan was to wait until we were for SURE that the Roo's were in fact Roo's, which we are almost sure they are, the problem is my husband wants to keep them both! They get along very well (for now) but I am worried that when the time comes, they will "over service" (if you will) our hens...So I was thinking of buying 4 more 6 week old pullets to sort of even the ratio between them. Suggestions?? If I do this, how would I introduce them together & is this really the way to go? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

At that age I would simply put them together. The earlier the better so they grow up together.

There is the issue of quarantine though. Are you planning to quarantine or are they coming from the same source?

An oft-quoted rooster to hen ratio is 1:10 but of course it does depend on the rooster.

 

[Folly's place]

You will need ten to fifteen pullets at least to have two cocks. Maybe more, but probably not fewer. Definitely get more pullets now, and see how your boys mature. You might have issues with one or both cockrels as they mature, and be able to solve the problem then. Mary

 

[BethMatt]

I'd be buying them from a Hatchery that already has their chicks vaccinated, not were we bought our original chicks from, we got them from a feed store (mistake I'm finding!)

 

[BethMatt]

You will need ten to fifteen pullets at least to have two cocks. Maybe more, but probably not fewer. Definitely get more pullets now, and see how your boys mature. You might have issues with one or both cockrels as they mature, and be able to solve the problem then. Mary

Being a first time chicken owner, do you find that cocks fight a lot as they mature, even when they've been raised together? Their breeds are Barred Rock & Bantam Millie D'uncle (spelling?)

 

[Folly's place]

I have had all sorts of roosters, and behavior will be very individual. Breed tendencies are only part of the story. I have both Belgian d'Uccles and large breed birds, and the get along fine. BUT only time will tell if your two cockrels play nice or not. Having enough space, multiple feed and water stations, and outside time, all helps. The biggest issue with cocks is human aggression; cull for that, don't make excuses for them. Often males raised together will be fine with each other, without causing injury. If there are issues with fighting, and only next year will you really know, then removing one will be necessary. Or two or more pens. Chicken math does happen! Mary

 

[Lau]

We have (what we think are) 2 Roo's & 4 hens at 6 weeks old. The plan was to wait until we were for SURE that the Roo's were in fact Roo's, which we are almost sure they are, the problem is my husband wants to keep them both! They get along very well (for now) but I am worried that when the time comes, they will "over service" (if you will) our hens...So I was thinking of buying 4 more 6 week old pullets to sort of even the ratio between them. Suggestions?? If I do this, how would I introduce them together & is this really the way to go? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

I saw your post and I am currently going through the same process, I was wondering what worked for your flock. I currently have 4 pullets about 9 weeks old. 1 is a Golden Laced Wyandotte and the other 3 are Barred Rock. I believe 2 of the Barred Rocks are cockerels but not 100% yet. We figured since they are still young we would go ahead and add two pullets around the same age so that in any case we have at least have 3-4 chickens if the others end up being roosters. The two new additions are 1 Speckled Sussex and 1 Black Star, luckily we know both of these are 100% pullets. If they end up being roosters we cannot keep them and we would then find them a new home. Integration started yesterday, at first they were all out in the yard and they were keeping their distance from the new girls but every now and then one of the BR would rush to the new ladies and peck at them, nothing too serious. But things got serious when one of the new ones went into the run and the BR went after it. They went into the coop in the evening and all slept together last night but this morning when I let them out the BR all ganged on the two new additions and I had to separate them because all 3 BR were cornering the new girls and pecking at them. I now have the 2 new pullets separated from the original 4. They are in separate enclosure right next to run that has the other 4, look but don’t method. They will stay like this for the rest of the day and later I will try letting them out to free range together. Any suggestions, tips or just information is appreciated as I am a first time chicken owner. Thank you!