Which is better?

[Chewys Chickens]

So I think I am posting this in the right section; we are new to the raising chickens experience and we have 6 hens right now all the same age and all different breeds.

My question is this spring we were planning on getting a more chicks to add to our flock, are we better to buy chicks and try to add them in or borrow my friends rooster for a few days and hope for the best and add their own chicks into flock?

What is the best way to add chicks into a flock?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You'll need a grow out coop to get chicks to a good size before integrating them into an existing flock. Even if you had a hen go broody and hatch eggs the chicks would only be so well protected from other hens by her. When she stops protecting them they are at risk of serious injury until they get of sufficient size and/or have many hiding places to stay out of the pecking order.

 

[Chewys Chickens]

So with the chicks we had we waited until they had all their feathers and it was warm enough to let them go outside I think they were around 3 months old. What is a good age to introduce baby chicks into a flock?

 

[lovemy6hens]

Buying chicks would be the better option, in my opinion. The rooster would need to be quarantined for about a month before introducing him to your girls. Even with the rooster, you'd need a broody hen.

 

[lovemy6hens]

A good age to introduce new chicks would be when they're big enough to defend themselves.