Topic of the Week - Flock Development and Management

[aart]

This is more of a question. If we have 12 laying hens now (and one fat rooster) and we want to expand by adding some chicks, what is the best way to safely introduce the new chicks to the rest of the flock?

Hi, not sure how to post on here to the right place. Confusion regarding how to ask a question to everyone. I got a French Black Copper Maran last spring and she started laying about 6-7 weeks ago. I got an egg about every other day and once in awhile each day. Then all of a sudden she stopped. The weather is actually warmer now in the 30's to 40's. Before it was beliw freezing but i had a heater so basically she is in the same weather environment. Cant figure out why she suddenly stopped. I know new layers are irregular at first nut she wasnt. She was a started pullet too when i got her. The other hens i got atsame time are still laying. Any ideas? She is very healthy and hss proper lighting as well. Thanks.

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[4wets]

I replace my flock every 2-3 years, depend on breed. We butcher are old birds and have them fur supper (I'm an old farm girl). I use to put leg rings on my girls to ID them and tracking age. But, had trouble with some of the rings growing into their legs and causing infections. I use to have 30-55 birds. Now I have over 100 birds. So my method now, is buy differ pullet breeds-4-6 breeds each year, and switch breeds the next year. I love having a mix breed flock. If you don't like mix breeds that much or have a smaller flock just buy one breed per year. Do not use the leg rings!

 

[JayColli]

I replace my flock every 2-3 years, depend on breed. We butcher are old birds and have them fur supper (I'm an old farm girl). I use to put leg rings on my girls to ID them and tracking age. But, had trouble with some of the rings growing into their legs and causing infections. I use to have 30-55 birds. Now I have over 100 birds. So my method now, is buy differ pullet breeds-4-6 breeds each year, and switch breeds the next year. I love having a mix breed flock. If you don't like mix breeds that much or have a smaller flock just buy one breed per year. Do not use the leg rings!

I just did quite a lot of reading on wings bands and they seem like the way to go if you don't mind sorting through your birds at night since they're usually hidden by feathers. I prefer to inspect my chooks at night anyways so that's what I'll be doing starting this spring.

 

[crystal spencer]

We manage our flock the same way as azygous (post on the first page).

Anything "named" in our household has a dignified natural death. I do love my girls!

 

[MaryJanet]

- How often do you replace birds?
- What do you do with the older birds?
- When you replace birds, do you: hatch your own, buy local, order from a hatchery, breeder, other?
- Do you buy chicks or started pullets?

I have a plan of expanding the flock with three purchased pullets + any pullets that hatch under a hen.

The (hopefully) fertile eggs are donated by the family on my street who keep a rooster. In the future, I may try with eggs from a different source.

Now the flock is established with hens of different ages, I aim to expand whenever there are six or fewer hens. Twelve is the upper limit.

Last week there were four hens. On the weekend, three pullets and three eggs were added to the numbers. So we're at 7 chickens + 3 eggs being sat upon by a broody.

The older hens live until they die from natural causes. The chickens go to an avian vet for health support.

So it's a mix of strategies, on the whole I feel I've been lucky with only 5 dead so far (3 in a fox raid, 1 put to sleep with EYP, 1 half hatched chick squashed by a hen).

 

[Perris]

- How often do you replace birds?
- What do you do with the older birds?
- When you replace birds, do you: hatch your own, buy local, order from a hatchery, breeder, other?
- Do you buy chicks or started pullets?

Anything you'd like to add?

I replace birds that die from natural causes or predation with chicks raised within the flock.

Sometimes I buy hatching eggs from breeders for a broody, to bring in new genes of a breed that I expect to do well as a dawn-dusk free ranger, which is how they live here. Other times the chicks are home bred mixes of the roos' and hens' own choosing, though I select which hens' eggs to leave in the nest, trying to ensure that each hen of 2 years or older has the opportunity to produce at least one chick, while not growing the flock beyond the carrying capacity of this land.

I treat older birds like the rest. Currently the oldest are nearly 6; they still lay well (c. 100 eggs per year) and their eggs are fertile, their chicks vigorous.

I'd like to add that older birds are a real asset to a free range flock; they have proved their fitness by surviving, and they pass on their genes and skills to youngsters in the flock. I have lost less to predation each year, and not even a single chick this year.

 

[luckycluk]

View attachment 2987156

As time goes by flocks change. Birds get old, or sick. Some we lose. Chicken math strikes and we add birds. We all have our own ways of dealing with this and managing our flocks and found what works best for us, so this week I'd like to talk flock development and management. Specifically:

- How often do you replace birds?
- What do you do with the older birds?
- When you replace birds, do you: hatch your own, buy local, order from a hatchery, breeder, other?
- Do you buy chicks or started pullets?

Anything you'd like to add?


For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

I have a question about this. i’ve been thinking about adding more in the spring but i want to avoid integrating new ones in. My question is if a hen hatches some chicks do i have to seperate her n her chicks from the flock or will she just take care of them n the other hens will leave them be?

 

[Perris]

if a hen hatches some chicks do i have to seperate her n her chicks from the flock or will she just take care of them n the other hens will leave them be?

mine are raised within the flock, I don't separate them. The broody looks after them, and there have been zero integration issues. I haven't had another flock member attack any chick either. A little disciplinary tap on the back is not to be confused with an attack.
However, I have read other people's stories of different experiences. It's not always rainbows and unicorns.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have a question about this. i’ve been thinking about adding more in the spring but i want to avoid integrating new ones in. My question is if a hen hatches some chicks do i have to seperate her n her chicks from the flock or will she just take care of them n the other hens will leave them be?

I have a hen who squashed a half-hatched chick last year. I don't know how trustworthy she is, so I'm going to fence off an area at first with fencing a chick can pass through but not a hen. At the same time, she will be distracted by new pullets coming into the flock and no doubt giving them lots of "instruction". Once the chicks are steady and quick, I'll take down the fence, put down lots of hiding places, and hope for the best while expecting the worst.

 

[Rosto]

View attachment 2987156

As time goes by flocks change. Birds get old, or sick. Some we lose. Chicken math strikes and we add birds. We all have our own ways of dealing with this and managing our flocks and found what works best for us, so this week I'd like to talk flock development and management. Specifically:

- How often do you replace birds?
- What do you do with the older birds?
- When you replace birds, do you: hatch your own, buy local, order from a hatchery, breeder, other?
- Do you buy chicks or started pullets?

Anything you'd like to add?


For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

I have had chickens on and off since I was 4. We had them as pets growing up and to eat bugs in our garden. Dad still has 3 roosters that are at least 15 years old—no lie! He let them run loose and it was survival of the fittest. These guys are mutts from bb red bantams, mixed game, Cochin, Silkie, and who knows what. They rarely fight. Can actually fly for a long distance—- at least 200 yards. Hens are vicious broodies! Hiding nests so well we couldn’t find them. We have had 13 chicks hatch with snow on the ground. She raised them all outside a coop roosting in a tree as soon as her chicks could jump. Had another hen hatch 12 she actually sacrificed herself fighting a raccoon. Her mate raised the 5 chicks left. We eventually sold off all the hens as my mom was tired of them running around everywhere.

As an adult, I married and had chickens for eggs and pets. It’s been a few years since I had a flock.Then in January I was diagnosed with Alpha Gal. I got chickens again in June to have a safe food supply where I know what I’m are eating.

Older birds will retire here. Only dying from natural causes. They are treasured pets that will be valued for their personalities and for eating bugs. Replacements will be made as birds pass of old age and run ins with predators, etc.

I’m working on a couple of breeding projects and purchased hatchery chicks for base genetics. I’ll add in quality eggs and chicks from show stock and breeders with good quality birds. I’ll hatch and produce my own replacements as needed.