small flock - chick integration and when to rehome cockerel chicks

[cityeggs]

I have four 5-week old chicks and 3 hens. I'm pretty sure 2 of the 4 chicks are cockerels (mainly because they both have pink wattles showing up already - but I've suspected for other reasons for a while). They've all been in a look-don't-touch situation for 2 weeks out in the coop and I'm just getting ready to open the escape hatches, now that the chicks are feathered out enough to not need constant access to the heat source in case they get chased further from the heat and it takes them a little while to get back.

Assuming there's no chance that these two are pullets (I have to get better pictures before confirming with the experts in the breed/gender forum), when would you rehome the cockerels? I can't keep them and the feed store I got them from will take them back. Would you wait a little bit for everyone to resettle from integration? For some reason, to me it seems like more chicks would make integration easier on the chicks - what has your experience been?

I want to avoid keeping them until 16+ weeks like I've ended up doing before (as a newbie waiting for any responses to ads hoping to find them homes...), when they become difficult and unpredictable; between that stress and the extra work (and the more time to get attached - both for me and my kids - right now, of course, one of the ones I'm pretty sure is a boy is bc he's the only friendly one who comes to say hello and hangs out with me while I clean out the brooder) I'd like to avoid all that. But if more fuzzy targets helps spread out the stress of integration, or overwhelms the hens to the point that they just shrug their shoulders and move on, I'm certainly willing to keep the boys around for a little longer - I'm just not sure where that balance point is!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ask the feed store if there's a minimum age... from the ones I've seen, they want the chicks old enough to be fully off heat and "able to stand up for themselves."

Otherwise I would go ahead and integrate them as a group for now. It should make for an easier integration for the 2 pullets in the group. Once you can confirm that they are definitely cockerels and they meet any minimum age requirement, I would remove them at that time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

In general I believe in rehoming as soon as I can confirm that I really want to rehome them. That way you don't have the expense of feeding them or the work of caring for them. And a big one that you recognized, it gives you less time to get attached. But I agree with Rosemarythyme.

It is more difficult to integrate one chicken of any age than to integrate more. They are social animals and do better with others around. Younger chickens are often driven away from the adult flock if they invade the personal space of the adults. It's generally easier of you have at least two so they can keep each other company.

If you have only two one can die. That leaves you with one, not a great situation. So I'd start the integration now with all four and see what happens. I'd base the decision of when to rehome on things like age requirements and what I actually saw as how the integration is going. I don't think there is one age that fits every situation.

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree with the above.

I start trying to rehome cull cockerels as soon as they're off heat, but I integrate all the chicks as a group.

 

[Mrs. K]

The more chicks you add, the better. At five weeks, their need for heat is really nothing. They do need adequate wind protection, but with that can keep themselves warm.

I would get them into the flock, wait 1-2 weeks, when the flock has settled down, and then cull the boys.

Mrs K