When to integrate new chicks?

[EggSighted4Life]

It can be done easily, depending on the hen... but that's a long time to be broody and they lose weight and condition during that time.

 

[robyn8]

Is 28 days that much worse than 21? In honestly not sure.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is 28 days that much worse than 21? In honestly not sure.

Maybe not... but it is at least 25%- 30% longer depending on how you do your calculation. So to me, yes.

For me, if I know it's going to be that long, I break my broody and hope for another. Like with everything though, you have to do what you think will work best for you!

Just mentioned it so you could take it into consideration.

So far my broody's are all bantam... don't know if that effects deterioration or not. And also I feed flock raiser with 20% protein instead of layer with 16%... also calcium in layer is not good for broody's or others not in lay. Since my flock always has chicks, layers, broody's, molters, cockerels... I just provide the OS on the side. Makes it easier to feed everyone the same feed. I don't consider it perfect for everyone (in the flock), but I do consider it a happy medium.

One other thing to mention, I don't know how it will be once maturity sets in... but as chicks, my broody raised are ALWAYS more flighty than brooder raised. I will be curious to see though if they come back to normal friendly as time progresses. Not on this go around though because all the chicks I gave my broody (4) are cockerels.

Best wishes, no matter which way you go! I just love raising chickens.

 

[robyn8]

She got up so I snuck another egg into her nest. I'm thinking I'll let her try to hatch these and if they don't make it give her the ones I ordered? Do you think two eggs to sit in it good? I don't want to end up with too many chickens for the space we have. To recap, we have 3 BO hens, 1 silkie cockerel, and are getting more standard size pullets. Coop is 8x8 (we'll need to add roosting bars but that's fine) run is 8x16

 

[robyn8]

She got up so I snuck another egg into her nest. I'm thinking I'll let her try to hatch these and if they don't make it give her the ones I ordered? Do you think two eggs to sit in it good? I don't want to end up with too many chickens for the space we have. To recap, we have 3 BO hens, 1 silkie cockerel, and are getting more standard size pullets. Coop is 8x8 (we'll need to add roosting bars but that's fine) run is 8x16

Meant to say we're getting 4 more standards. So 7 standard hens and a bantam rooster with what have and have ordered total.

 

[donrae]

In your situation, I would see if she wants to brood, but I would not give her eggs to hatch. I'd have her brood golf balls or ceramic eggs or something like that. The timing with her hatching her own chicks, then trying to graft shipped chicks may be too tricky. Lots of hens won't accept grafted chicks that are a few days older or younger than their hatch.

I'd give her the bait to set on (golf balls, ceramic eggs, etc) and watch her. It may take a few days to really stick to the nest. But if she is dedicated, it could work out nicely for you to graft the chicks to her.

If you do have her hatch out eggs, remember statistically half will be cockerels. You'll need a plan for them. If you just go with your shipped sexed pullets you still have a chance of an Oops, but it's much less than hatching odds.

 

[robyn8]

In your situation, I would see if she wants to brood, but I would not give her eggs to hatch. I'd have her brood golf balls or ceramic eggs or something like that. The timing with her hatching her own chicks, then trying to graft shipped chicks may be too tricky. Lots of hens won't accept grafted chicks that are a few days older or younger than their hatch. 

I'd give her the bait to set on (golf balls, ceramic eggs, etc) and watch her. It may take a few days to really stick to the nest. But if she is dedicated, it could work out nicely for you to graft the chicks to her. 

If you do have her hatch out eggs, remember statistically half will be cockerels. You'll need a plan for them. If you just go with your shipped sexed pullets you still have a chance of an Oops, but it's much less than hatching odds. 

Thanks so much for the opinion! She took a break for less than an hour and is back to her nest so it's looking like she's sticking it out for now!

 

[jessg84]

I am considering adding 2 new chicks to my 4 one year old hens (2 barred rocks, 1 BO, 1 GLW), my biggest concern is if I have enough space for the integration process. I have 80 square feet of run space and a 4x4 coop with external nest boxes. I was going to brood the chicks inside but as soon as it is warm enough move them into the run in a dog crate and fence off a small area for them (I do not have electric in my coop). I like the idea of a panic room. I do let my chickens into my yard in the evenings when I am home and more on the weekends, so I was thinking when I first introduce them with no fencing I could do it in the yard so there would be more space to run and hide. I am also confused on quarantine. If I get chicks that are less than a week old do they need to be quarenteened for a month or can I start bringing them into a secure area in the run so the other girls can get used to seeing them? I plan to get my chicks from a local farm where I got my original ones from. I'd appreciate any advice as I am trying to make a decision on if this is a good idea for me to get the chicks.

 

[MigraineMan]

We picked up some chicks that are about 2-weeks younger than the older ones. We put together a divided brooder in the hopes that the birds would gain familiarity before being integrated. (The little fuzzbutts are in the section on the right.) Nope. The small ones were terrified of the bigger chicks, and immediately ran to the opposite side of the brooder.


We added a cardboard partition to visually separate the sets. We plan to slowly back it off so they can get acquainted, but the little ones can still run away and hide in a sheltered area. I know they can hear each other, and both groups regularly peck at the cardboard divider. Haven't quite figured this one out yet, but a gradual approach seems appropriate.

 

[lazy gardener]

We picked up some chicks that are about 2-weeks younger than the older ones. We put together a divided brooder in the hopes that the birds would gain familiarity before being integrated. (The little fuzzbutts are in the section on the right.) Nope. The small ones were terrified of the bigger chicks, and immediately ran to the opposite side of the brooder.


We added a cardboard partition to visually separate the sets. We plan to slowly back it off so they can get acquainted, but the little ones can still run away and hide in a sheltered area. I know they can hear each other, and both groups regularly peck at the cardboard divider. Haven't quite figured this one out yet, but a gradual approach seems appropriate.

As the younger ones get settled, remove the cardboard, and give them a wire divider. Then, start feeding them at the divider. Eventually, you can put one of the bigger ones in with the little ones during treat time. Keep rotating a big one in with the littles until you see how the bigs interact, then remove the divider for supervised play time. Integrating early is better than late. I've done 3 week age difference before without problem.