1 week old chicks with day old chicks?

[AmeraucanaHank]

hi,
I have 6 one week old chicks and 12 more coming from Murray McMurray hatchery. I am wondering if it would be okay for them to be together? because I don't have a hole lot of brooder space. Thanks!

 

[JustCallMeMaple]

Speaking from experience they will be fine, their development and instincts are close enough that they should integrate with little issue. Just check on them often and if any seem really persistent or aggressive give it time alone and it will rethink itself. Chickens have group instincts. My dominique was an eye pecker when I got her as a chick. A few times of being alone in her own box where she could hear the others but not peck them made her feel lonely enough she stopped trying to peck out eyes (she was in the second youngest group I brought in as day old chicks into chicks 3wks older). Other than her pecking eyes they all meshed really well. I did and still do handle my chickens (even chicks) often so that may have helped. I have young kids in the home so I wanted to make sure that the birds I had were easy going to being handled. Kids are unpredictable after all.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Speaking from experience they will be fine, their development and instincts are close enough that they should integrate with little issue. Just check on them often and if any seem really persistent or aggressive give it time alone and it will rethink itself. Chickens have group instincts. My dominique was an eye pecker when I got her as a chick. A few times of being alone in her own box where she could hear the others but not peck them made her feel lonely enough she stopped trying to peck out eyes (she was in the second youngest group I brought in as day old chicks into chicks 3wks older). Other than her pecking eyes they all meshed really well. I did and still do handle my chickens (even chicks) often so that may have helped. I have young kids in the home so I wanted to make sure that the birds I had were easy going to being handled. Kids are unpredictable after all.

Thank you! I hope your right!

 

[NatJ]

Speaking from experience they will be fine, their development and instincts are close enough that they should integrate with little issue. Just check on them often

That matches my experience as well.

I've combined chicks that were shipped a week apart, and they were fine.
Having the younger ones outnumber the older ones seems to help.

hi,
I have 6 one week old chicks and 12 more coming from Murray McMurray hatchery. I am wondering if it would be okay for them to be together? because I don't have a hole lot of brooder space. Thanks!

They will probably be fine, but do make sure they have enough space. Putting them all together will be better than trying to divide the same space in half, but there are limits to how much you can crowd them before you start having problems. More crowding usually means more problems.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

My chicks are here!!!!! I will let you guy now what happens!!!

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

they are all doing GREAT!!!! Will only the 6 older ones are keeping their distance for now!

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

They all did great together! I think it's better this way, because the older ones tought the younger one how to eat and drink!