What age should I get?

[SwampPrincessChick]

But is it difficult to add new fluffballs to an existing, grown flock?
Sue

Always add new chicks to an already-existing flock when the chicks have reached the age where they are the size of the grown birds and they are able to defend themself. Chickens are intelligent birds with a complex social hierarchy called the pecking order, in which every chicken has its own ranking depending on how dominant or weak it behaves. It is totally normal for fighting to happen when new chickens are mixed into a flock－in fact, there is never not any fighting, since chickens have to determine each other's place on the pecking order every day. That being said, you should still monitor them. Any excess bullying behavior should not be tolerated. Be sure that you let the new chicks see the old chickens before letting them in with each other－this is called the "see-no-touch" method and is used in many situations.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I thought that was only true if the coop was on the ground (rather than raised off of it)?

Ah yes that's true - I was thinking a set up like mine, where both coops sat directly on the floor or are elevated, but not enough to use underside for access.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

My plan was to get 8 young chicks and spend the year improving/modifying their living quarters as needed and as I learn. If there seems to be a little extra room for another few chickens I'll probably add some but my PLAN is to just love on the original eight and enjoy them fully. I know - chicken math..... I'm probably being naive to think I can start with eight and stop with eight.
Sue

 

[z3lda3]

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?

Hi, this is my first year raising chickens. I’ve got ALL ages. I’ve got a day old chick, 5 weeks, 9 weeks and 14 weeks. Baby chicks are the cutest! I carry them around in my pocket, I LOVE them, buuuut, they can be waaayyyy more maintenance. If you’ve got time and energy definitely get chicks. A brooder in house gets dusty and messy. The little buggers will kick up everything. The experience is awesome, getting to know them, watching them grow. And they are so funny!
If you want low maintenance get older pullets. My 14 week olds are easy as pie! They really handle themselves. I don’t free range mine unless I’m out with them. They have a big run and they do their own thing. My dogs paid more attention to the smaller chicks, than my older pullets, my dogs are kind of scared of my big gals.
I wouldn’t trade having chicks, watching them hatch and getting to know them for anything. But next year, Im going to let a mama hen do the chick stuff. I’m tired of having brooders in my house lol.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

8 of these came home tonight..... how old do you think they are - a few days?
Sue

 

[rosemarythyme]

Couple of days yes, definitely under a week.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

I got four of the black/yellow ones and four of the golden ones but they were all in a brooder market Rhode Island Reds. I'm guessing the black and yellows are a different breed?
Sue

 

[rosemarythyme]

I got four of the black/yellow ones and four of the golden ones but they were all in a brooder market Rhode Island Reds. I'm guessing the black and yellows are a different breed?

Yes the black ones are a different breed. Not sure what they might be, as many breeds of chicks look similar at such an early age. Something that'll possibly be mostly black once grown, perhaps.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Yes the black ones are a different breed. Not sure what they might be, as many breeds of chicks look similar at such an early age. Something that'll possibly be mostly black once grown, perhaps.

Searching the web, they look to possibly be Black Australorp?
Sue

 

[rosemarythyme]

Searching the web, they look to possibly be Black Australorp?

Very possibly, they're pretty common in feed stores. I've never had any to make the comparison though.