What is best? Newbie question here..

[chilisweet]

Hi all,

We are almost finished with our coop. Man what a pain!

Anyways, we want to get some chickens this week and were wondering if it is better to get 1month old chicks or 4 month old pullets for the first chickens to have? We can get the 4 monthers from a gal off of Craigslist and the chicks from the feed store.

We will have a coop & run large enough for 12, but we are thinking of starting small and having about 5. Do you think it would be easier for us newbies to have chickens that already know how to roost and are already laying eggs? Or better to have babies that we can get used to us, and teach how to roost?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be great!
Thanks so much,
~Caran

 

[gritsar]

Caran, hi and welcome to the forum.
I think that your question would be one with lots of answers, depending on whom you ask. To me there's nothing like starting out with the little wee ones and watching them grow. You're not going to have to "teach" them how to roost or do many of the other things chickens do, as it's instinct for them.
The one advantage I can see to getting the older birds is that they are pretty much past that tender stage where there's endless worry about doing everything right...keeping the temp. right, watching for signs of illness that young chicks are prone to, etc. So it's a trade-off. You'd get so much enjoyment from watching the young ones, but you'd worry more too.
If you do decide on the older ones, keep in mind that although you may have been told they are laying now they may quit for awhile while they adjust to their new surroundings.
Good luck with the addiction, whichever you choose.