We're new in Redlands, CA but having fun so far.

[dranchhens]

Hi. We are new to the chicken loving backyard fun. My son's kindergarten class were hatching chickens and we decided (since they would need homes), that we would take them. So off on our adventure we began. We have four chickens but currently do not know if they are all hens. We have a pretty good idea that one is a rooster, possibly two but will continue to wait for more "final" outcome. They are only five weeks old. But, since we have a very high suspicion that at least one, possibly two are roosters, we wanted to add two more "known" hens to our flock. I have read some threads which generally suggest that at this age we can add two without too much problem, I am wondering if it makes any difference given that we really think one is a rooster. Does anyone have any thoughts as to if it would matter much to add two "80% sexed" hens that are one week younger than our current four, to a mix that probably includes 1-2 roosters to be?

Probably a bit too much of an introduction- but trying to get info ASAP.
Thanks.

 

[Cynthia12]

Shouldn't matter adding more.. at that age..in fact, you want more for a rooster. Two roosters will be too many for the few that you have. Poor hens will be in trouble with two of them after them all the time.
Wanting good egg layers? Sexlinks are great. Australorps too.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Congrats on getting your chicken adventures under way. It's a great hobby for all the family to get involved in and help out with.
Wishing you the very best of luck adding a couple more girls to your flock.

Enjoy BYC

 

[N F C]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

It's nice to have you join us.

 

[sunflour]

so glad you have joined us.

I have no experience adding to the flock, but by 5 weeks pecking order is already starting. Any changes can cause stress at any age. IMO add to the flock and you can first try just placing them with the others under supervision - up close and from a distance - the dynamics are different when we are around them. If trouble does start, then remove and use the look, no touch method of integration.

Would love to hear an update on how this works for you.


Have fun, enjoy your new flock.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[dranchhens]

Thanks for you response. We don't know about the second possible rooster that is in question - it's a big question right now, but we are not allowed to have roosters in our area unfortunately and if it turns out this way, we will have have to relocate the 1-2 roosters. That is why we want to add to our flock now before we have to wait a long...

Shouldn't matter adding more.. at that age..in fact, you want more for a rooster. Two roosters will be too many for the few that you have. Poor hens will be in trouble with two of them after them all the time. Wanting good egg layers? Sexlinks are great. Australorps too.

 

[dranchhens]

Thanks. Yes we will definitely be monitoring. I have searched some other threads on BYC which have a 'general' consensus that at this age it should go be pretty well. But if we have trouble I will definitely be back on here again looking for advice. My only unknown in the process is the possibility that I have one maybe two roosters in my mix. The second one in question may actually be a hen. And that would be ideal. Is there a place I could upload a pic of my two birds and see what others think they are - hen or rooster? Maybe I will try that.

  so glad you have joined us.

I have no experience adding to the flock, but by 5 weeks pecking order is already starting.  Any changes can cause stress at any age.    IMO add to the flock and you can first try just placing them with the others under supervision - up close and from a distance - the dynamics are different when we are around them.    If trouble does start, then remove and use the look, no touch method of integration.

 Would love to hear an update on how this works for you.


Have fun, enjoy your new flock.

 

[N F C]

@dranchhens , you can share photos of your questionables here (read the picture guidelines first):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

Good luck, hope you don't have 2 roos!