Should I get two?

[paigeandclyde]

Hi, I am going to buy a little few day old bantam cochin, and I was only planning on getting one. I already have 7 full-grown hens, so I'm wondering if I will need to get another chick to keep it company while brooding it, or if I just take it out and let the other chickens see it. What should I do?

 

[LarryPQ]

Lone chicks do poorly.

You may want to think about getting three, so that if one dies, the survivor isn't alone.

 

[CCourson05]

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Or... If I did my chicken algebra right, I'd say get 5 or 6.

 

[LarryPQ]

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Or... If I did my chicken algebra right, I'd say get 5 or 6.

Baby steps, CC05, Baby steps....

don't worry, we'll get her.

 

[Celtic Chick]

If you let your adults have access to your new chick, you will have a dead chick. Never show strange chicks to adult chickens. It will be bad.
You would do best by getting at least 3. And do not introduce new chickens to an existing flock until they are roughly the same size. The existing chickens are going to gang up on your new ones and beat the tar out of them. You really need to research "adding to your existing flock" because it is a time consuming process.
Never just throw new chickens into an existing flock. The results can be catastrophic. If you have chicks, the general rule for adding new birds to an already existing flock is to wait until the newcomers are roughly the same size as the established birds. That way, they can at least defend themselves. You need to have an introduction period of at least a few days to a week, preferrably with the new ones fenced off so the "old" ones can't tear them to pieces. You can then either divide your run into 2 separate sections or put the newcomers into a cage inside the run for a few days to let them get used to each other. Then I let them out to free range together for a few days/week, eventually they will fight it out and the new ones will blend in with the original flock.
Unacquainted chickens are going to fight, and unfortunately there is not much that can be done about it. It is just in their nature. But I would suggest that when you do finally put them together for the first time that you have the garden hose ready just in case anyone gets a little too out of hand. One quick shot of water should do it.

 

[CCourson05]

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Or... If I did my chicken algebra right, I'd say get 5 or 6.

Baby steps, CC05, Baby steps....

don't worry, we'll get her.

Ahh... Right... Incognito

 

[Tool]

Or just do like I did. Go to get a couple and come home with 17.




P.S. I suck at chicken algebra.

 

[pdsavage]

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