More chickens.

[Tom90]

Hi I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but I am looking to expand my flock of 3 to either 5 or 6 and had a few questions. Fist of all heres a bit of info on my current situation. I have 3 one year old blue australorps in my backyard in a 40m2 "run" (it's just a fenced off open area just for the chickens) so I'm fairly confident I can fit 3 more birds in there, my coop is roughly 1.2m3 with enough room to put another roost so I'm pretty confident I can fit 3 more in there aswell. So unless anyone thinks I don't have enough room I'll probably get 3 buff Sussex. My main question is should I wait until the end of winter and get pullets or get 24 week old hens now? (Those are they current available hens and times I've found off 2 separate breeders).
Any comments and advice is appreciated, cheers Tom.

 

[LostBoi73]

From what i can figure you have plenty of room i believe 4ft quare per chicken is recomended ( happy to be informed to a correct space ratio if im wrong) personally id prefer more than the minimum. And given my tendency to jump feet first id go for it now. Why wait lol. If you can give a good home to them then go for it. To my mind your capability to look after them trumps time of year. But once again im happy to learn if someone dissagrees with a valid arguement.

 

[Tom90]

From what i can figure you have plenty of room i believe 4ft quare per chicken is recomended ( happy to be informed to a correct space ratio if im wrong) personally id prefer more than the minimum. And given my tendency to jump feet first id go for it now. Why wait lol. If you can give a good home to them then go for it. To my mind your capability to look after them trumps time of year. But once again im happy to learn if someone dissagrees with a valid arguement.

Thanks for the reply. I too feel impulsive to get them now I'm just new to chickens and wasn't sure about any possible issues introducing them during the cold weather or anything like that.

 

[LostBoi73]

Thanks for the reply. I too feel impulsive to get them now I'm just new to chickens and wasn't sure about any possible issues introducing them during the cold weather or anything like that.

Sink or swim baby! Lol
And if they have to huddle then that my help them bond quicker

 

[Sally PB]

@Tom90, where are you located? You can add your location to your profile, and then it's always there. Your climate matters a lot when it comes to what advice people will give you.

Before you get any more chickens, read up on integrating groups of chickens so you can see what you need to do. That might help you decide when to get more.

 

[Tom90]

@Tom90, where are you located? You can add your location to your profile, and then it's always there. Your climate matters a lot when it comes to what advice people will give you.

Before you get any more chickens, read up on integrating groups of chickens so you can see what you need to do. That might help you decide when to get more.

Hi thanks for the reply. I will try to update my location. But in the mean time I am in nunawading Victoria. I have read a lot about integrating new hens to a flock however none of what I have read said anything about time of year is best other than that most breeders hatch new chick's in spring.

 

[Sally PB]

I will try to update my location. But in the mean time I am in nunawading Victoria.

The fact that you're in Australia is HUGE, since your seasons are opposite to the US, where most BYC members live. I'm not familiar with your climate; how hot are the summers, how cold are the winters? Is it dry, rainy?

I have read a lot about integrating new hens to a flock however none of what I have read said anything about time of year is best other than that most breeders hatch new chick's in spring.

That's because it gives the little chicks time to grow their own feathers to keep warm before cold weather. You mentioned getting 24 w/o pullets -- we called them "started pullets" in the US. They would have enough feathers at that age.

Another reason to get birds in the spring/summer is so that they can be outside. When it come to blending groups of birds, space is vital. The more space, the better, and that usually means outside run space.

You are thinking ahead on this, and that's a good thing!

 

[Tom90]

So where I live it's currently 0°c - 12°c (32f-53f) and my girls are outside from dawn to dusk. As for rain Melbourne is known for having 4 seasons in one day so it's hard to say but they have the coop and also a sheltered area when it's wet. Spring it usually wetter than winter but alot warmer

 

[aart]

my coop is roughly 1.2m3

Did you mean 1.2m2?
1.2m squared is only 12 sqft, fine for 3 birds.

 

[Tom90]

Did you mean 1.2m2?
1.2m squared is only 12 sqft, fine for 3 birds.

No it is a 1.2m cube with 3 nesting boxes multiple levels and enough room for 2 roosts but currently only has one. Also they are only in there at night and to lay.