I suppose a concern I might have of bringing in chickens, from another farm is the introduction of disease, and/or mites. Most birds bought from commercial hatcherys have been innoculated, and generally are mite free. I suppose you could give them a dusting to kill potential mites, and initially feed them medicated feed for a time.
When your eggs hatch, and you have raised your chicks to the size that your ready to introduce them to the other birds (that you might get from a hen swap), your run is big enough that you can build a partition to keep them seperate initially. I understand that if they can see each other for a few days before being mixed togeather there is less likely chance of a pecking order, or turf war breaking out.
I would think that any birds you get from a hen swap, should be as young as you can get them. There is less likely a chance that they have learned bad habits, (ie egg eating). As well it may make the introduction of your young birds go smoother.
Now on the other hand, (if your hubby doesn't mind building another run, and hen house
) you could get older, ready to lay, or already laying birds, and start enjoying fresh eggs right away.
he's propbley right
