New here & adding new chick with existing chicks

[MamiPollo]

Hi everyone!

I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks, and decided today is the day to jump in and start posting.

Last Monday I got 4 pullets (2 astralorps & 2 araucanas) from the feed store. I have had them 10 days today. I don't know how old the chicks were, but they were beginning to get their wing feathers.

In my city we are allowed to have 5 hens and one rooster. I am going to skip the rooster, and someone told me I could substitute a hen for that one.

I had had in mind to start with these 4 and then add a couple more next year, but I have been reading that it is hard to add to an existing flock. So, now I want to go ahead and get one or two more chicks so my coop will be maxed out.

My question is whether if I go back to the feed store and get one or two more today will my 4 girls make them miserable, or will they be able to join right in? I am hoping I can find one(s) the same stage of development of my current ones. As recently as Saturday they still had some.

Alternatively, I am planning to move these girls to the chicken tractor next week I think (will they be ready then?). I could then start some new chicks in the brooder. But then I would have to mix them together later. I would also not be able to get more than 2 new ones and would that be a problem?

 

[Nicole01]

I put a new baby in the brooder two days ago. The oldest ones are 4.5 weeks old. I have one 3 weeks old. It went well with the newcommer. The 3 week old is a bantam and did well too, we added her the weekend before. The older ones lay with the new baby to keep her warm under the light.

 

[chicmom]

It'll be just fine. I had chicks that were about 10 days old, and then I hatched a few, and they didn't even seem to notice the two newbies, who were just a bit smaller.

 

[blefky]

I would say, do it, keep an eye on them, and if there is any aggression towards the little ones put up a see through barrier (like some chicken wire maybe) for a week or so to give them some time to become accustomed to the newcomers. One this is for certain, integrating them now will be much less of a hassle than integrating them later. Good luck!

 

[chickengal30]

and

you got chickie babies!!! Enjoy.

I was wondering where your located, will it be warm enough for them if you put them in their tractor next week, especially the two new ones? Im in Florida with day time temps in the 80s and night time in the 70, and my four, four week olds seem fine with that in their super secure 6x3 brooder ( I refuse to loose ANY to any stupid preditor out there

!!!) which is in the car port till I get their home finnished this weekend....

There pretty much "feathered" too - just a thought. Welcome again, this is an awsome site!

Oh forgot to say, even though Ive been reading this forum for over two years, Im only in my fourth week of actually having chickens, so Im not sure how to advise with the age differences, but they sure are a knowledgeable lot here, so youll get some good info Im sure! Byee!

 

[MamiPollo]

I got another australorp and a Columbia rock. I was considering Buff Orringtons, but theirs did not look too good. I had to get the australorp. I was standing there looking in her cage. She was napping, but woke up and saw me from the other side of the cage and came right up to the front to see me. Well, she stole my heart!

So far so good on the integration of the new girls.

The new ones look a lot scruffier than the original 4. I am hoping this is due to more stressful conditions they were in at the store and that they will be a gorgeous as their new sisters in a few days or so.

 

[MamiPollo]

Oh, I am in KY. Mine will be on the carport also, right next to the house. And I plan on weighting down the tractor with cinderblocks on the corners.

It does depend on the weather, which is a bit erratic right now. I can put their light out there with them, and put a tarp up to block drafts.

If it is too early, they can stay in the bathroom, but they are going to be flying out of their humongous tote soon & don't think I can cover it very easily to prevent this. Right now the tote is squeezed tight between the bathtub and the front of the toilet.

To use the bathroom in our house right now you have to be very brave and also something of a contortionist. You have to stand in front of the sink, get ready, then back up to the potty with one foot in front of the other (narrow space), then sort of fall back onto the comode which freaks out the chicks everytime. Once you have landed you have a nice view of the girls and they forget you are there after about 3 seconds. So sometimes my daughter has to come get me, because I get comfy and forget to come back and fix her lunch!

Taking a shower is almost as adventurous, but you have a slightly wider approach to the tub.

Oh, the things we do for our birds!

 

[LaStrawberryMom]

Quote:
I actually laughed out loud reading that! Our 15 yr old daughter took all the clothes out of her closet and threw them on the floor in the corner of her room (which is usually where they are anyway) to make room for the box in her closet. We figured that was the only safe place in our house away from the cat, dog & her younger siblings. LOL