Just getting started and need advice on new chickens

[Heididi]

They handle heat better than you'd think. Like any other ones if they've got shade and a little pool to dip in they're o.k. This is dealing with S.C summers where temps over 100f are pretty common. Your fav bites fingers? That is funny.

Chickassan, do you recommend a little pool? Can you post a photo of yours? I was nervous about moisture attracting flies, so much so that I've got a chicken nipple watering system planned to avoid spilled water. Their run has a completely shaded area at the back, which only gets early morning sun, but it does get really hot here in the summers, even in the shade. In excess of 100 every July, August, September, and now even October, and getting worse each year, it seems. I looked up the favs, and oh my gosh they are adorable! I'm a little worried about the pecking order if I had more than one breed. Any insights there? Right now I'm wondering about mixing up Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. I'm mostly nervous about chickens fighting each other!

 

[Heididi]

Either way has it's advantages.

Getting all 6 at once is least stressful for the chickens for sure. But you make good points about trying to get a handle on caring for chickens. That matters too. Don't underestimate the value of having some experience caring for and knowing your birds. Will the stress of your learning curve outweigh the stress of later introductions? No idea.

Having said that, introducing birds to a flock is not hard and something that most flocks learn to deal with. It's not like it's a monstrous thing to do. But it's assuredly effort.
To introduce new birds, first quarantine them, usually for a few weeks, to make sure they're healthy. I use my garage usually. Then isolate them for about a week or two in sight of the current flock. Then slip them into the coop at night, placing them on a roost bar. When they come out the next day there will be some fussing/fighting but it will be very little and should be a relatively smooth transition.

I do suggest introducing two or three chickens at a time, never just one. Introducing just one tends to instantly make them the odd duck and they get bullied.

Thanks for these great insights. I think I'd rather suffer the steep learning curve than see my hens fighting and suffering later on. I'm intrigued by the staggered egg laying, though, as I also have to consider that when planting/harvesting fruit/veg from the garden.

 

[Heididi]

It's far easier to bring in/raise a full flock at once, however one thing to keep in mind is that egg production will start to drop off as early as 2 years. For that reason many keepers have flocks with staggered ages, to keep egg production rolling along more smoothly.

You'll still have downtime especially if you don't provide light in the winter (I haven't had eggs since October or so, as my hens are over 2 and molting and my pullets are still too young) but once they start up the younger birds should help with production.



As a continuation from above, the reason it's easier to bring in a flock all at once is because chickens are territorial and adding new chickens can be a real headache. The flock can attack and injure birds they don't recognize. Integrating new birds requires TIME and SPACE - even introducing chicks to a mature flock (the "easiest" integration) can take several weeks. With your current planned setup you may find it tight space wise for integrating birds, as it helps to have room to put in extra feeders, waterers, and obstacles to allow new birds to get away from bullies.

That said, I haven't had issue adding birds thus far but I've only ever added chicks with adults and pullets with pullets the same age.



Would you be interested in starting with chicks or are you interested in older birds only? Obvious advantage with chicks is they're cute, easier to source (you can order from a hatchery or go to a local feed store or breeder), and if you handle them from the start they're more likely to be friendly as adults. Downside is they're obviously a little more time consuming and depending on breed(s) chosen and source there's the possibility that you'll get a male.

As far as breeds, IF you want to start with chicks and want to make 100% sure you don't get males, then any of the sex-linked types would be an option. If you're not a fan of high production hybrids then I'd recommend having at least one Easter Egger, as they come in almost every possible color and their eggs come in a variety of colors too.

Wow, you are full of great info, thank you so much! After what I've read today, I'm considering starting with chicks. They are easy to source here, as you said, and I like the idea of learning as much as possible from every stage of their lives. In that vein, do you think there is any reason to start with a broody hen and fertile eggs instead of chicks? I like the idea of showing my kids the natural processes by which baby chickens stay warm and learn the ropes from mum. I have a local farmer who accepts roosters if any of the chicks turn out to be male...

 

[Chickassan]

My little pool is just the smallest kiddie pool you can buy, one of those hard plastic ones. I promise it won't attract any more flies than you'll already have. Mixing breeds is tricky. RIR's are pushy and don't generally mix well. BR's are pretty mellow. The favs are beyond mellow. My flock is all mixed, im personally having luck keeping favs, brahma, dominique, and speckled sussex together with no issues.

Chickassan, do you recommend a little pool? Can you post a photo of yours? I was nervous about moisture attracting flies, so much so that I've got a chicken nipple watering system planned to avoid spilled water. Their run has a completely shaded area at the back, which only gets early morning sun, but it does get really hot here in the summers, even in the shade. In excess of 100 every July, August, September, and now even October, and getting worse each year, it seems. I looked up the favs, and oh my gosh they are adorable! I'm a little worried about the pecking order if I had more than one breed. Any insights there? Right now I'm wondering about mixing up Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. I'm mostly nervous about chickens fighting each other!

 

[rosemarythyme]

In that vein, do you think there is any reason to start with a broody hen and fertile eggs instead of chicks? I like the idea of showing my kids the natural processes by which baby chickens stay warm and learn the ropes from mum. I have a local farmer who accepts roosters if any of the chicks turn out to be male...

I haven't had experience trying to hatch my own (I break my broodies) so I don't know if that would work. Would she abandon the nest if moved to a new home? I'm not sure.

You could try to incubate eggs as well though once again I don't have experience as I've only ever bought chicks.

Glad you have a plan if you do get males, regardless from your own hatch or from incorrectly sexed birds at a store!

 

[aart]

For hot weather...I've found a big(all day big) chunk of ice is way better than a pool of water for cooling.

Make room in your freezer...

 

[Shadowfire]

They handle heat better than you'd think. Like any other ones if they've got shade and a little pool to dip in they're o.k. This is dealing with S.C summers where temps over 100f are pretty common. Your fav bites fingers? That is funny.

She thinks she's a rooster. She'll scratch as the ground, ready herself, then charge at any unsuspecting person. She's also top of the pecking order and even bosses around the rooster.

 

[Chickassan]

Ha! That is hilarious! They do have little tempers, they just don't know what to do with them.

She thinks she's a rooster. She'll scratch as the ground, ready herself, then charge at any unsuspecting person. She's also top of the pecking order and even bosses around the rooster.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Wow, you are full of great info, thank you so much! After what I've read today, I'm considering starting with chicks. They are easy to source here, as you said, and I like the idea of learning as much as possible from every stage of their lives. In that vein, do you think there is any reason to start with a broody hen and fertile eggs instead of chicks? I like the idea of showing my kids the natural processes by which baby chickens stay warm and learn the ropes from mum. I have a local farmer who accepts roosters if any of the chicks turn out to be male...

Girl..... get yourself an incubator and buy some fertile eggs on Ebay! That way you can start from the beginning of chicken life to the end!

Might I suggest these cheap incubators, you can even find them cheaper on Ebay! Just get an additional thermometer/hygrometer at like Walmart for $10 more and you are set!

This one have been used by some members here, it has automatic turning function.
HERE : https://www.amazon.com/Incubator-Di...135600&sr=8-1&keywords=janoel12+egg+incubator

This one also seems to be a great budget incubator, but you have to turn eggs by hand.
HERE : https://www.amazon.com/Yosoo-Chicke...d=1544135645&sr=8-4&keywords=10+egg+incubator

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I have built a set up appropriate for 6 hens (they have a coop that is 4' by 4' by 4'

Isn't a 4x4 coop suitable for 4 chooks?