new chick help?

[butch1309]

I did some reading on this already but wanted some more input. we have 6 buff orphington and 2 mallards about 5 to six weeks old.. I was wanting to get 2 silkie bantam from TSC. they are new chicks and I was wondering if the quarantine protocol was still the same or if a week or 2 would work? One other question having 8 chicks I would only need 4 nest boxes correct? I thought about 5 to 6 anyways but just wanted some thoughts. thanks any info would be appreciated!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Be careful mixing large breeds and silkie, sometimes it doesn't work out. The silkies end up bullied. I personally wouldn't worry about quarantine. The biggest concerns at that age is cocidiosis and perhaps Mareks. I also think that the tractor supply requires you to buy 5 chicks for a minimum.

Nestboxes are about one box for 3 hens.

 

[butch1309]

I wondered about that too with the pecking order per say. and we had to buy 6 chicks originally but supposedly once you have them you can buy one or two at a time. thanks for the info!