Too many chicks?

[ChickChickCoffee]

I first want to say sorry if this is a dumb question. Totally new to the chicken world here.

We have 11 three week old pullets. Tractor supply basically told us to buy double what we wanted because several would probably die. Thankfully, there have been no losses! However, that does leave us with double the amount of chickens we figured we would have.

Now, I’m not opposed to keeping all of them, but I am wondering, if we busted them up and just kept 5-6 and took the others to our friends farm, would that be traumatic or detrimental to them in any way since they have all already been together this long? (Said friend is well versed in chickens and so I would be 100% comfortable and confident in their quality of care there.)

I am just curious!

Thank you!

 

[AinaWGSD]

It might be stressful for the ones moving to the new farm (chickens are not big fans of change) but I wouldn't say traumatic and they should adjust pretty quickly.

 

[ChickChickCoffee]

It might be stressful for the ones moving to the new farm (chickens are not big fans of change) but I wouldn't say traumatic and they should adjust pretty quickly.

That is encouraging to hear. I don’t really want to bust them up. We could accommodate all 11, but being first time chicken keepers I’m wondering if it would be an easier learning curve for us with fewer, since we truly only wanted about half a dozen to begin with! lol.

 

[WingItRanch]

You can definitely separate them and they'll adjust. You can also keep all 11! Honestly, caring for 5 vs caring for 11 is no different. If you have the proper amount of space for them, then I say keep them. The chores will all be the same.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I always love having a good hatch, then when they start getting stinky, I thing 8 would have been enough. But with chicken math, 8 is 11.

 

[AinaWGSD]

You can definitely separate them and they'll adjust. You can also keep all 11! Honestly, caring for 5 vs caring for 11 is no different. If you have the proper amount of space for them, then I say keep them. The chores will all be the same.

True. If they're all being housed in the same space there's very little difference between taking care of 5 vs 11 chickens. On the other hand, if you keep all 11 and chicken math hits, it may be harder to find space for the extra chickens you want

 

[redinator]

That is encouraging to hear. I don’t really want to bust them up. We could accommodate all 11, but being first time chicken keepers I’m wondering if it would be an easier learning curve for us with fewer, since we truly only wanted about half a dozen to begin with! lol.

Chicken math at work again. If you can accommodate I agree with @WingItRanch . I'll give you options if some turn out to be aggressive or get taken by predators. I'm not trying to scare you, but it happens . . .it's better to have a few 'spares' just in case.

I attempted to hatch 12 eggs, 7 hatched, 2 failed to thrive, one male became super aggressive at 7 weeks and had to be rehomed. I ended up with 4, 2 males and 2 females . . .which is not a workable number . .

I managed to find a local person that had chicks and grabbed 19 more . . . lol. . . . yes, I'm hooked and a little crazy, but now I have extras and have a friend willing to take any I can't keep after I figure out which are males and females.

 

[redinator]

I first want to say sorry if this is a dumb question. Totally new to the chicken world here.

We have 11 three week old pullets. Tractor supply basically told us to buy double what we wanted because several would probably die. Thankfully, there have been no losses! However, that does leave us with double the amount of chickens we figured we would have.

Now, I’m not opposed to keeping all of them, but I am wondering, if we busted them up and just kept 5-6 and took the others to our friends farm, would that be traumatic or detrimental to them in any way since they have all already been together this long? (Said friend is well versed in chickens and so I would be 100% comfortable and confident in their quality of care there.)

I am just curious!

Thank you!

Another note at 3 weeks . . .are you sure they're all pullets?

 

[ChickChickCoffee]

True. If they're all being housed in the same space there's very little difference between taking care of 5 vs 11 chickens. On the other hand, if you keep all 11 and chicken math hits, it may be harder to find space for the extra chickens you want

That is part of my thinking too! What if, in the future, we want to expand the breeds we have and we don’t have space. Chores aren’t so much at the top of the “what if” list. We have half an acre and could accommodate a coop big enough for 11, but our skill set on building one vs buying one would force us to buy a very large one and in our area those are near $5K

 

[WingItRanch]

That is part of my thinking too! What if, in the future, we want to expand the breeds we have and we don’t have space. Chores aren’t so much at the top of the “what if” list. We have half an acre and could accommodate a coop big enough for 11, but our skill set on building one vs buying one would force us to buy a very large one and in our area those are near $5K

Always go bigger! Chicken math is a real thing. I've been expanding my run and coop all weekend so I know...

Also good question from @redinator .. what if a couple of those are cockerels? Sexing at birth isn't 100% accurate. If you're worried about being inexperienced... I'd suggest having an all female flock at first. Males are a whole different ball game. Especially young males.