what would YOU do?

[Minky]

I have 7 hens that are mixed breeds (EE, BO, Maran) they are 8 months old.

3 weeks ago I was given a beautiful rooster (8 months old) by a lady who never wanted him (she bought 6 hens and the breeder "thru in a roo for free")..... So she only had the rooster and his 6 sisters (Cream Legbars), in a small backyard coop.

When I picked him up, she gave me 5 fertilized eggs she had gotten from her hens that day and the day before, and asked if I'd like them.

Sure!!! I said, and I asked a friend to incubate for me (I dont have one and have never done it). I told her she could have all but one pullet- I only want one hen from it.

So far, all looks good with all 5 eggs, and tomorrow is day 18- lockdown will begin. Now--- my friend also has chickens... (and pigs and goats) and I am worried about WHEN TO PICK UP MY BABY PULLET????? (think: disease etc....)

Should I get her day first week? I think no- she will be better off with other little chicks to cuddle up with. Right?
Should I get her 2nd week? 3rd week? Its cold here and she will have to be away from my hens and roo who are in the barn.

I was thinking I would collect her when she no longer needed the source of heat, but was old enough to be a little stronger to survive the stress of a new environment?? 5 weeks? 6 weeks? And I'll keep her in our greenhouse area, which is cool but doesnt drop below zero....) . thoughts????

To complicate matters, I am getting a whole bunch of day old chicks (meat and layers) in April.

So this little surrogate chick will be older than all those birds by 6-8 weeks....I am hoping to integrate them together while young. (the layers and my surrogate- not meat chicks).

What do you think? Advice much appreciated!!

 

[bobbi-j]

It sounds like you'll be trying to integrate a lone bird. That's always a bit harder than integrating a bunch of them. To be honest, I'd probably not take any of them. I'd leave that chicken with its hatch mates and just concentrate on the chicks you'll be getting in April. But that's me. I have not been in your situation, so I don't know what would be the best route to go here.

 

[Latestarter]

Your age groups are going to be all over the place... Too bad they didn't line up a little better. Honestly? Right now I'd ask your friend to let you reneg on the bargain and let you have 2 of the chicks so they can be companions while growing out together. Either that or let your friend raise it till it's a fully grown pullet that you can then integrate into your herd (flock). That way they'll all be about the same size...

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Trying to integrate a single is hard, from what I've read. I'd ask for two chicks like @Latestarter said.

 

[aart]

If you really want CCL chicks, get 2 or 3, not just 1.
They should be sexable at hatch if they are pure.
If they aren't pure, or you aren't sure, I'd pass...
...because mixed age groups can be a PITA if you're not set up for it and willing to manage the integrations.

Have done the mixed age groups of chicks, once it was a nightmare(6wk range), another time it was easy(3wks range). Nightmare was 3 different enclosures, then 2 enclosures, then finally chicks were all together, then chicks had to integrated with the main flock.

 

[Minky]

Im pretty sure she wont want any roos...so would it be better to take 2 even if one was a roo that we would cull at 16 weeks???

 

[aart]

Im pretty sure she wont want any roos...so would it be better to take 2 even if one was a roo that we would cull at 16 weeks???

Maybe....would depend on if you could get that age group integrated with the other other chick group before culling male. The key is keeping 2 or more in each age group, even after culling, because a 'single' bird can become a target.

 

[Minky]

how about if I raise the 20 egg layers (hatch April 27) with the one CLB Hatch March 5?
7 weeks difference, but the larger bird will be the only big one... so maybe at 5 weeks and 12 weeks-- would a 12 week old single bird pick on 20 little 5 week olds?

 

[aart]

how about if I raise the 20 egg layers (hatch April 27) with the one CLB Hatch March 5?
7 weeks difference, but the larger bird will be the only big one... so maybe at 5 weeks and 12 weeks-- would a 12 week old single bird pick on 20 little 5 week olds?

There's your 2 chick age groups.
They need to be integrated carefully, you can't just throw them together and expect to them to get along. Sometimes numbers help, sometimes not. Any single bird integration can be a problem, that's why folks have been telling you to get 2-3 of the older CCL chicks. A 7 week span in age might be fine, and it might not(more likely). There are no guarantees or finite scenarios, why having a setup with separate but adjacent enclosures is good to have.


Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Joeschooks]

I too would agree with the others and say better to have none or two. It would be a wise precaution to quarantine them before adding to your flock. Good luck.