So, of my 8 little chicks that I got (as 1 week olds) on 2/21, I've finally conceded that one of the Rhode Island Reds is a he and not a she. That leaves me with 7. Of the seven, my Plymouth Barred Rocks look to soundly be little ladies, and the other two Rhode Island Reds are also girls. That leaves the two Ameraucanas, and from what I understand, until I hear crowing or see blue eggs, we'll never know. 
I have a few options that I'm thinking through, but I wanted to understand the logistics before I went too far.
I could just keep the seven and be done with it because that's still enough. I have enough room for up to 16, but just starting at seven is still OK. There's no overly compelling reason to replace the one.
The place that I bought them from has some remaining chicks that are 2 weeks older than my current chicks, and 2 weeks younger. Both groups have Rhode Island Reds, and I think at 7 and 11 weeks, we could be pretty sure I'd get another girl. They also have some Plymouth Barred Rocks, and I also feel confident we could pick a girl.
If I did want to add the replacement, would I need more than 1? I'm a bit worried that adding a single - even at the 9+ week chick age - they might bully. Suggestions on that? I don't have any adults, this is just adding chicks of near the same age to each other.
Finally, the plan is for them to go out to the finished coop on Monday/Tuesday this next week. With that pretty big change in their environment, would it be a good time to sneak in the new addition(s)? When I raised fish, if you re-arranged plants and structure layout in the tank, you could add new fish to the school because everyone was sort of building their new boundaries and figuring things out. They didn't really notice someone was new because they were all establishing their areas again. I don't know if the existing chicks that I have would still stay banded together or with all the excitement of the move to the large space in the coop, if they'd pay any more or less attention to new comers.
I'm really trying not to overthink it here, but just keep the peace in my chick flock. They've really been well behaved so far.
I have a few options that I'm thinking through, but I wanted to understand the logistics before I went too far.
I could just keep the seven and be done with it because that's still enough. I have enough room for up to 16, but just starting at seven is still OK. There's no overly compelling reason to replace the one.
The place that I bought them from has some remaining chicks that are 2 weeks older than my current chicks, and 2 weeks younger. Both groups have Rhode Island Reds, and I think at 7 and 11 weeks, we could be pretty sure I'd get another girl. They also have some Plymouth Barred Rocks, and I also feel confident we could pick a girl.
If I did want to add the replacement, would I need more than 1? I'm a bit worried that adding a single - even at the 9+ week chick age - they might bully. Suggestions on that? I don't have any adults, this is just adding chicks of near the same age to each other.
Finally, the plan is for them to go out to the finished coop on Monday/Tuesday this next week. With that pretty big change in their environment, would it be a good time to sneak in the new addition(s)? When I raised fish, if you re-arranged plants and structure layout in the tank, you could add new fish to the school because everyone was sort of building their new boundaries and figuring things out. They didn't really notice someone was new because they were all establishing their areas again. I don't know if the existing chicks that I have would still stay banded together or with all the excitement of the move to the large space in the coop, if they'd pay any more or less attention to new comers.
I'm really trying not to overthink it here, but just keep the peace in my chick flock. They've really been well behaved so far.
