[Carshay]

I am so enjoying my girls that I would like to add a couple of chicks in the spring that I can watch grow. I don't know if this is very sensible as maybe they would be attacked by the resident chickens more than if they were older? Can anyone advise me? I am also a bit worried about getting carried away and ending up with loads of chickens but I guess that's down to willpower!

[D]

As a general rule of thumb I wouldn't introduce chicks under 18 weeks of age to a flock of older birds, since the younger will not stand a chance, I know people who have put chicks in with the older birds who have pecked them almost to death so its not very nice. You'd be better off getting a small arc or something to keep the chicks in until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

[CluckyChicken]

and also, just adding to D, if possible ansure they can see each other from when they first arrive for a few weeks, then they will be more used to eachother when they are put into the same coop

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

You could always keep you fingers crossed that one of your existing girls goes broody and then put some fertile eggs under her.

Mum watches over her new charges like a hawk, knows when to introduce them to the rest of the flock and looks after them as good as any guard dog, lol. 

But like other people have mentioned, you do need to ensure if you're introducing new girls that they're big enough to be able to not be pecked to pieces.  Additionally you would need to quarantine any newbies for a few weeks.

P.S.  They are very addictive, I started out with the intention of keeping three hens.  I'm now up to eleven and I know that's small potatoes in comparison to a lot of people on here 

Good luck 

[CluckyChicken]

same here F-L, I began with two, now have 8 and am going to begin incubating them in the next couple of weeks for spring.  I never imagined I could actually get addicted to some little fluffy birds

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

I know, they fix you with their little beady eyes and wrap you around their claws.  I couldn't imagine a garden without hens now. 

When I first got them there were vows made of the fact the garden wouldn't suffer and the flower beds would be hallowed ground... Not anymore.  The chickens definately come first. 

[CluckyChicken]

I know, had just planted some onions last spring in the garden and got the chickens about 3 weeks later.  Looking out the door and I see my little sussex with a red bit hanging out one side, and green out the other, being chased by my maran.  I was not pleased, and quickly gave up with the planting things in the garden idea.  The allotment will have to do: no herbs in the back anymore     but as you say, my chooks come first  :happy:

[ferretkeeper]

I am having a similar dilemma, having started with 4 ex batts, acquiring a cockerel then buying in another 7 pullets I decided to try hatching this autumn when one of my silkies went broody. Got a dozen fertile eggs (mistake at the breeders, only wanted 6) and ended up with just one stunning little chick hatched late November. They've been living in a heated outbuilding away from the main flock ever since the weather turned cold.

So now I've got to re-introduce my broody and her baby so I'm going to try the ark in the main run for a while, so they get used to one another.

PS does anyone know what colours a cotswold leg bar male and female chick are - I know it's an auto-sexing breed but I never got told which colour means what?! 

Not that it matters, if it's a hen I'll have lovely coloured eggs, if not he'll make more babies that lay lovely coloured eggs! 

[Carshay]

Thanks for your replies - I think I'll take pot luck and go the broody route if any of the girls get broody. Leave it in the hands of fate!

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

Fingers crossed for you - it's a great experience (if not a little nerve wracking at first!).  There are plenty of older threads on here with what to do if you do get a broody hen and get fertile eggs for her.

Best of luck and keep us posted. 

[CluckyChicken]

PS does anyone know what colours a cotswold leg bar male and female chick are - I know it's an auto-sexing breed but I never got told which colour means what?! 

Not that it matters, if it's a hen I'll have lovely coloured eggs, if not he'll make more babies that lay lovely coloured eggs! 

This is what I found online (the link to the site is below the text) :

The 'barring' pattern is sex-linked, i.e. the males have two chromosomes for barring and the females only one. Day old chicks have a light patch on the top of the head. When the barring is combined with brown colouring, the light spot on the head of the females is small and well defined and there is a clearly defined dark stripe down the back. The stripe down the back of male chicks is much fainter and there is a light patch that covers most of their head. The down of the male chick is also much paler.

there is a picture of the chicks on the website which is : http://poultrykeeper.com/chickens/genetics/what-is-autosexing.html

Sooooo which one have you got then??