Minimum new chickens to indroduce

[zombie66]

This will be my third year raising chickens. I've introduced 7 to my original 9 a couple years ago. Due to predators or illness I need 5 more this spring. I have 11 now and my coop will comfortably hold 16. The problem is, the feed store may not have the breeds I want at the same time. So the question is if I get a couple here and there, what's the least amount of birds I should introduce at a time? Or should I wait and hope my feed store gets the ones I want?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Groups are definitely easier, both to brood and to blend with your existing flock. Ask if you can special order a few chicks that you really want through the feed store, when they are selling chicks, if their supplier has them.
Or, see if you can go together with another 'chicken person' nearby to combine an order from a hatchery.
Here we often combine hatchery orders with a friend or two, and it works very well.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

More is better, adding a pair or trio is much harder than adding 5. It can be done, but it is much harder, and will be much harder if there is competition between the chicks themselves which if they are different ages there will be.

 

[aart]

This will be my third year raising chickens. I've introduced 7 to my original 9 a couple years ago. Due to predators or illness I need 5 more this spring. I have 11 now and my coop will comfortably hold 16. The problem is, the feed store may not have the breeds I want at the same time. So the question is if I get a couple here and there, what's the least amount of birds I should introduce at a time? Or should I wait and hope my feed store gets the ones I want?

Do you have a good large brooder, that you can split if needed?
Combining the chicks before integrating with the flock might be the way to go.

 

[zombie66]

I hooked up with someone at work and ordered online. That way I get what breeds I want. I have 10 coming the second week in Feb. 5 are mine and 5 are hers.

 

[Mrs. K]

Also - after thinking on this, I would order more than 5. You are thinking exact math, but I have found chickens don't really work that way. Unexpected deaths in either chicks or hens can leave you short of birds. You can have more chicks than hens, because they are smaller. Odds are some of your older girls might die or slow way down on laying. And you can always sell point of lay pullets.

So I would suggest getting 10 chicks, with the idea that you will do some culling (not necessarily killing, just removing from your flock) in the fall. You do HAVE to have the right number of birds going into winter.

More chicks are easier to integrate. There how is that for enabling! haha

Mrs K

 

[CluckerFamily]

If at all possible, I wouldn’t do split orders but all of them together. It is just easier and quicker to integrate into the flock.

 

[Brooksy21]

I only have 6 birds which is a nice number for me. However I’d really like to add a few more colors to my egg basket come spring . What would be the minimum number of birds I should add. I’m thinking 3 at least incase I lose one then I’m not left with just one to integrate, that would be terrible. 10 seems like way too many although I probably have the room. I’m thinking max of another 6, but 4 might be the magic number. Thoughts?

 

[Folly's place]

Any number larger than two! And it's hard to choose who to get; Easter Eggers and French Marans for sure, then maybe Welsummers, leghorns, or some other blue egg layers.
On second thought, avoid single combs, given your climate.
Mary

 

[Brooksy21]

Any number larger than two! And it's hard to choose who to get; Easter Eggers and French Marans for sure, then maybe Welsummers, leghorns, or some other blue egg layers.
On second thought, avoid single combs, given your climate.
Mary

All of mine are single combs and cold hardy. 2 BOs, 2 BAs, 2 EEs. What’s wrong with single combs?
I’m thinking 1 Welsummer, 2 Marans not French, and an Americana if I can get them all on the same day.