New to chickens!

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tabithas

tabithas

In the Brooder
7 Years
Jul 7, 2012
81
3
41
Denver, Colorado
Hi!
My name is Tabitha. I live in Colorado and my finace and I have decided to get some backyard chickens. We got four chicks two weeks ago; a barred rock, a buff orpington, a black star and a ancona. Sadly, the ancona passed away. Everyone else is eating/drinking and active, although the black star is much smaller and not developing feathers like the others. Does anyone have any advice on weather there is something wrong with it? Also, we are thinking about getting two more chicks. Will our chicks adapt/accept new younger chicks? Thanks!
 
We need more information. Are your chicks warm enough? Are they too hot? What are you feeding them? How old exactly are they? That black star should be growing just as well if not faster than the others because black stars are made to grow fast and be good layers. I would not get any other chicks yet until you know more about this situation. But, yes, the other chicks would accept new chicks just fine.
 
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from Arkansas, by the way! And welcome to the world of chickens!
 
I got them two weeks ago and believe they should be almost three weeks old, although I do not know exactly how old they are. They are housed inside in a brooder with a heat lamp at one end. They should be warm enough, but I don't know the exact temperature. They spend some time at the warm side and some time at the cool side. They are currently eating a medicated chick starter food. They all eat great and the black star is just as active as the others...in fact I think it is the most fiesty of the bunch!
 
It sounds like everything is going great then! It should be just fine to add some more little chickies. Just keep an eye on the black star. The older chicks may sometimes peck on the new ones but I've never had any real issues with this.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC!
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Glad you joined us!
 
Hi and :welcome

I wouldn't worry about your black star so much for now - at three weeks old, it might just be a little on the slow-growing side. Chicks all grow at different rates. I had one hen who stayed small until she was a few months old, then grew into the largest chicken in our flock. :lau
As long as they're eating and playing normally, they should be fine. :)

You can introduce new chicks, but you'll have to be careful as pecking does happen as the hierarchy is sorted out. You should introduce them slowly at first, perhaps in two separate pens where they can still see each other.

Good luck, and I hope you find everything you need here. :D
 

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