Lots of chick questions

[whispurr]

I have 6 chicks that are 3.5 weeks old. I clearly have two roosters. What would you do with an extra rooster, and at what age should I give him away if that's what I decide to do.? I'd kind of like to keep both until I determine which one is the friendliest but I don't want them to start fighting or picking on the 4 hens.

Do they still need the heat lamp?

When can they go outside?

How do you keep them from spilling their water or filling it up with shavings? I'd have to give them water every couple of hours if I was being diligent.

At what age do they start needing grit?

Thank you!

 

[PomPom the polish chicken]

I would just get a couple of extra Pullets. They can can also go outside now if it’s warm enough

 

[Weeg]

I clearly have two roosters. What would you do with an extra rooster, and at what age should I give him away if that's what I decide to do.? I'd kind of like to keep both until I determine which one is the friendliest but I don't want them to start fighting or picking on the 4 hens.

I would post something about him as soon as possible. Its not easy to rehome roosters unforutently, so you'll want to get the word out before you need him gone.
If you want to keep him, you could either A) get a few more pullets, just make sure your coop setup is large enough first. 4sq ft of coop space per bird, 10 sq ft of run space per bird minimum. Usually roosters who are raised together get along good, you just need to have enough hens for the both of them. You shouldn't have to worry about them picking on them until the pullets are laying.
Or B) You could start a bachelor pen. Then you can have your roo's completely separate from the hens. If they can't see the hens, they wont fight.

Do they still need the heat lamp?

Are they fully/almost fully feathered? If they are, than no need for a heat lamp. If your coop and run setup is ready, you can take them outside as long as they are mostly feathered.

How do you keep them from spilling their water or filling it up with shavings? I'd have to give them water every couple of hours if I was being diligent.

You can use the cookie cooling rack method. Take a cooling rack and place it in the brooder. Put the waterer and feeder on top of that. Similar to what this chicken owner built-

At what age do they start needing grit?

If you are feeding them things other than they're normal feed, they should have grit.

Hope that helps!

 

[whispurr]

I would just get a couple of extra Pullets. They can can also go outside now if it’s warm enough

Where do you get pullets? I only know how to find chicks!

 

[Weeg]

Where do you get pullets? I only know how to find chicks!

You can search Craigslist. Hatcherys also sell sexed females. Sexlinked, or auto sexing breeds are probably your best bet since they don't have to be vent sexed.
You may also be able to find pullets from your local breeders. If you google, "Pullets for sale near me" you might get some results.

 

[whispurr]

I would post something about him as soon as possible. Its not easy to rehome roosters unforutently, so you'll want to get the word out before you need him gone.
If you want to keep him, you could either A) get a few more pullets, just make sure your coop setup is large enough first. 4sq ft of coop space per bird, 10 sq ft of run space per bird minimum. Usually roosters who are raised together get along good, you just need to have enough hens for the both of them. You shouldn't have to worry about them picking on them until the pullets are laying.
Or B) You could start a bachelor pen. Then you can have your roo's completely separate from the hens. If they can't see the hens, they wont fight.


Are they fully/almost fully feathered? If they are, than no need for a heat lamp. If your coop and run setup is ready, you can take them outside as long as they are mostly feathered.

You can use the cookie cooling rack method. Take a cooling rack and place it in the brooder. Put the waterer and feeder on top of that. Similar to what this chicken owner built-
View attachment 3069934


If you are feeding them things other than they're normal feed, they should have grit.

Hope that helps!

Our not-yet-arrived coop is 5'x6' (I think) with 6 nesting boxes. We don't have the coop yet so no run either. Hopefully it will come in soon! In the mean time, we have an external screen room that I can move them to. Maybe a large dog kennel or 2 because I know chickens like to go inside at night.

I put out the baking rack, we'll see how that goes. Those things get loud if they can't get their water or food!

What is too cold for them to go outside?

They're just eating chick starter food.

 

[whispurr]

You can search Craigslist. Hatcherys also sell sexed females. Sexlinked, or auto sexing breeds are probably your best bet since they don't have to be vent sexed.
You may also be able to find pullets from your local breeders. If you google, "Pullets for sale near me" you might get some results.

How worried about the avian flu should I be? I don't want to get pullets that are sick. How can I know they are healthy?

 

[Weeg]

Our not-yet-arrived coop is 5'x6' (I think) with 6 nesting boxes.

Where did you get this coop? Just thought I'd mention, 6 nesting boxes is way to many for the amount of birds that will fit in that coop. You can get about 7 birds in that coop. From what I've put together, you ahve 6 birds correct? If you get a few more hens so that you can keep both boys, your going to need a larger coop. The best thing to do might be to make a batchlor pen so everyone has enough space.
Back to the subject of nesting boxes, you only need 1/4 of a box per bird. If you can get 7 birds in that coop, thats about 2 nesting boxes, 6 is way too many. Point being that it takes away from the space in the coop. It also shows that whoever built the coop doesn't know much about chickens, and it probably had lots of other design flaws.

What is too cold for them to go outside?

What is your temp currently? I'd be concerned if it got near freezing since this will be their first time out. As long as its above that they'll probably be fine.

If they're only eating chick starter than you dont need grit, but once they go outside they will.

 

[Weeg]

How worried about the avian flu should I be? I don't want to get pullets that are sick. How can I know they are healthy?

You want your run to be covered to protect all of the birds from the flu. Personally, if its in your area I wouldn't add any new birds. You have plenty of time before you have to worry about over mating. I bet your boys will do just fine together, and they wont be mating the girls until they start laying.
Plus, it doesn't seem like you have space in your coop to add more birds, so I might focus on building a new coop for the boys instead?

 

[Weeg]

How worried about the avian flu should I be? I don't want to get pullets that are sick. How can I know they are healthy?

Avian Flu is deadly. If they catch it it will kill them. It really depends on what you are willing to risk.
Ordering from a hatchery is probably your best bet for biosecurity, if you decide to go that route.