04/28/2025
When/how to introduce new chicks (who are accidentally rudd rangers) to my tiny egg laying flock
Our backyard flock got attacked, so we built a better coop and were hoping to introduce some new babies this spring so our remaining girlies would have more company (both crews are pictured above for cute chicken tax).
I had planned to raise them indoors like I did my other girls, and introduce them when they're old enough to go outside on their own, but I guess my almost 3 year old salmon faverolle (Torchic) felt something in the air, because she decided to get broody this week for the first time ever. I know about the "tuck them under the sleeping broody hen" trick, but I wasn't sure if there was a time limit on that--my kids are having a lot of fun taking care of the babies, and I wasn't sure if the chances of the chicken mama rejecting them would rise if I waited a few more days (they were hatched 4/23, and since they're meat birds, they might grow more quickly?? i'm not sure) to stick them under her at night so my kids could have more time being caretakers. I'm also happy to wait and raise them all on our own, but I have feelings about Torchic getting to be a mama! Also, logistically I need to know if I need to set up a bigger brooder for them soon or not, lol.
Also, I planned on getting layers, but a combination of hijinks left us with 6 (according to tractor supply) rudd ranger babies, which are dual purpose meat birds/egg layers. They were all pullets (also according to tractor supply, which surprised me, since I would assume they wouldn't sex-separate meat birds?) I've read up a bit online about them, and have seen mixed reports about them as layers. If anyone has experience with them, i'd love to hear about how long they lived, their temperaments, if they ended up with health issues, and how they handled being in a mixed flock with other egg girlies, etc. We keep chickens mostly as pets with bonus eggs, so aren't looking to process them unless we have to.
Thanks!