What age should I get?

[SueAndHerZoo]

New to chicks and reading and researching all I can get my hands on before I actually bringhome some chicks. Purchased the coop and run yesterday but it will be a few weeks before we level the ground, assemble the equipment, and predator proof the area. My dilemma is whether I should get very young chicks (to be kept in the house for a few weeks until fully-feathered), already full-feathered chicks but still less than 6 months old, or adult hens.

My original plan was the fully-feathered chicks but I'm also very excited at the prospect of having very young chicks in the house for a few weeks while we set up the perfect outdoor habitat. I have two spare bedrooms I could keep them in and I have several dog playpens and gates and barriers from all my dog rescue.

I think my biggest consideration and concern is: what is the best age to introduce my three dogs to new family members? If I just put adults out in the pen the dogs will view them as prey and do a lot of barking and adjusting until I convince them they are "pets". I thought getting fully-feathered chicks (but not adults) would help the chicks get accustomed to all the barking of the dogs, but now I'm thinking having very young chicks in the house, where the dogs can see and hear and smell them with me safely supervising, might be the best way to let the dogs know that once these chicks move outside, they are NOT prey. I'm not sure I would ever allow the hens to free range when the dogs are outside, but I'm hoping it might be an option in the future. If not, I'm OK with making sure they aren't ever wandering the yard at the same time. It's a large, fenced in yard.

Thoughts, please?

 

[RadEggs]

100% pullets. Dogs usualy adjust fast, they seem to think chickens are dogs. It also depends on whether you have a terrier, sadly, they have some trouble. Pullets are the best idea because they can take care of themselves more. Then you can be sure you have hens too. The best place to get them is from a local farmer or breeder.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

One for adults, one for young. Anxious to hear others thoughts as there are pros and cons to whatever decision I go with.
Sue

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

New challenge: if I go for week olds, that's too early to sex them, correct? I only want hens.
Sue

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

New challenge: if I go for week olds, that's too early to sex them, correct? I only want hens.
Sue

You can buy sexed pullets at your local farm store that might be even younger than a week.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

You can buy sexed pullets at your local farm store that might be even younger than a week.

So should I consider that a vote for "young"?

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

100% pullets. Dogs usualy adjust fast, they seem to think chickens are dogs. It also depends on whether you have a terrier, sadly, they have some trouble. Pullets are the best idea because they can take care of themselves more. Then you can be sure you have hens too. The best place to get them is from a local farmer or breeder.

I guess I'm confused by the term "pullets". I always thought that referred to larger chickens but Googling says they are very young. So maybe that's a vote for "young" but you mentioned "they can take care of themselves more" so I thought you meant "fully grown".

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

I guess I'm confused by the term "pullets". I always thought that referred to larger chickens but Googling says they are very young. So maybe that's a vote for "young" but you mentioned "they can take care of themselves more" so I thought you meant "fully grown".

Pullets are female chickens under a year old. A hen is a female over a year. So, a pullet could be a day old chick or 11 month old chicken

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Pullets are female chickens under a year old. A hen is a female over a year. So, a pullet could be a day old chick or 11 month old chicken

Thank you!

 

[mcdze]

young, chick size, pullets are best imo .. chickens learn from almost day1 and have good memories so you can get them into a routine that works for you very quickly ... if theyre older than a couple weeks they will have already picked up alot of 'habits' and possibly had some bad experiences which will affect their disposition for life ..