How long does it taken baby chicks to grow?

[tdmason]

I have made a small brooder to keep some baby chicks in but was just wondering how long it would take them to get big enough to go with the other hens. My chicken coop is all chain link fence so I have to make sure they are big enough so they can't go through but was just wondering how roughly that would take. I will probably get some rhode island red, would love an easter egger of some sort and maybe a sussex or something similiar.

 

[Mahonri]

Baby chicks aren't ready to be with the big girls until they are at least 16 weeks old.

 

[tdmason]

Thanks! That isn't too bad. I made a really huge and nice brooder for them and would be able to have a heat lamp if needed but it is already in the 80's here in SC!

 

[gumpsgirl]

I don't usually combine my chicks until they are at least 18 wks old and then I feel like I'm pushing it. I try to wait until they are around 20 wks. so they have more size on them to have to deal with the bigger and older hens. I think it's kind of rough on them to have to get established in the whole pecking order thing and the more size they have on them before they have to go deal with that fight, the better.

 

[tdmason]

Luckily I only have three hens right now and they are all younger still and smaller since all of them are mized. LOL! They have a super large area to roam also so that should help some. I just introduced them together because I only had one hen and none of them fought and are all pretty laid back so hopefully that will be a good thing. I only want about four more. Are 7 hens too much for a 20X30 shed? I have a whole shed fenced in with a laying area on one side and feeding on the other and the rest is just a scratching area pretty much.

 

[felidaet]

20 x 30 is huge! This is 600 sq feet. Allowing 4 sq ft per bird gives you room for 150! The outside run should have 10 sq ft per bird.

 

[tdmason]

OK! I don't have an outside run for them and can't turn them out to be more of the free range because I am a dog trainer and have labradors at the house and of course that breed being so "birdy," I don't want to take the chance so that is why the shed is so large. It is where they stay all of the time but they get grass and lettuce and I even have a worm bed where I will throw them a couple a day so they kinda eat like a free range I guess. The top is copletely covered and only one side is solid, the other three are open with fencing so they get a good breeze too.

 

[gumpsgirl]

That sounds like a nice set up for spring and summer, but once the cold winter months arrive you are going to want to close in your coop to provide more shelter for your birds or they won't survive the winter. I suppose if you live in a warm climate year round it would be fine, but if you live in an area where it will get cold you need to finish enclosing your coop.

 

[tdmason]

Yeah, I am in SC so it gets pretty crazy warm here most of the time and we barely get winters that are harsh but I plan on making inside houses for them also for the winter time.

 

[joedie]

This is little off topic but if you want them to freerange here's a suggestion. I have a labradoodle and a St Bernard and don't trust the SB because she's a pup and BIG so I let mine freerange at about 4pm every day. I let the dogs out to do their business just before I let the girls out. Also the hawks always circle between 1-2pm here so I'm hoping they have finished their hunt. Anyway, the dogs can hold it until the girls put themselves back in at around 8PM. So far, no problem.