/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    Not a member yet? join BYC here & then introduce yourself in our community forum here.

1 week seperation of age- issue?

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by congdon476, Jan 30, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 30, 2009 #1
    congdon476

    congdon476 GaLLiNa LOcA

    503
    1
    141
    Dec 31, 2008
    Pueblo Area
    OK- so I received my replacement chicks for the ones that didn't make it via mail last week. I have 3 chicks that did and are doing well. I have them in one crate. I have my 5 new chicks that are a week younger in the second crate. They can hear but not see each other. Will I have integration issues with only a week difference if I combine them in 2 weeks? What's the best way to let them get to know one another... or just keep doing what I am doing, then add visual next week, then eventually put them together and see what happens?
     
  2. Jan 30, 2009 #2
    TXmom

    TXmom Songster

    1,505
    5
    161
    Dec 3, 2008
    Sealy, TX (West Houston area)
    Why don't you put them all together now? I got my Silkies before my Ideal chicks and I put them all together as soon as my Ideals came in with no problem. Well, my Silkies did sit in the corner for a few hours because they were a little overwhelmed by all the new ones, but they integrated later the same day.
     
  3. Jan 30, 2009 #3
    DouglasPeeps

    DouglasPeeps Songster

    1,258
    1
    171
    Feb 26, 2008
    Colorado
    They should be just fine to put them together. I would just keep an eye on them at first.
     
  4. Jan 30, 2009 #4
    Wynette

    Wynette Moderator Staff Member

    25,575
    121
    421
    Sep 25, 2007
    Michigan
    I had two hatched a week apart, and had no issues adding them together. When I put them together, the first set was 18 days old, second set was 11 days old. (I vaccinated for Marek's, so kept them separated the required 10 days). I had no issues.
     
  5. Jan 30, 2009 #5
    Chicken Woman

    Chicken Woman Incredible Egg

    2,465
    15
    181
    Oct 16, 2008
    Montana
    I had a similar situation. I first put them together and it was clear right away that the 2 wk olds would chase the 1 week olds.

    I put them in one large cardboard box. I use hardware cloth as it is pretty stiff and would stand up well. I cut it slightly larger than the box. I slid it down to seperate 2 chicks from 5. They could see, hear and visit. I had food and water on both sides of course. After about 4 days I removed the divider and kept an eye on them. They get along just fine. I can see that the 2 smaller ones are probably at the bottom of the pecking order but not getting feathers pecked or injured at all. They ar now 5 weeks and 4 weeks and continue to be fine.
    I think the longer you wait to integrate them the harder it will be.
     
  6. Jan 30, 2009 #6
    Buster

    Buster Back to Work

    7,204
    12
    261
    Jan 4, 2008
    The Frozen Wasteland of Idaho
    I put anything that hatched within two weeks of each other together and don't have any troubles as long as I make sure the day-olds are up and alert and eating and drinking.
     
  7. Jan 30, 2009 #7
    congdon476

    congdon476 GaLLiNa LOcA

    503
    1
    141
    Dec 31, 2008
    Pueblo Area
    [​IMG]

    OK- I put them all together and the OLDER chicks are afraid of the newbies!

    [​IMG]

    They are not quite double the size of the 2 day old chicks and they are huddled in the corner like the tiny ones are gonna cream 'em. In their defense the new BO is making quite the racket and running around like she's all-that. (I hope it's a she).

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Jan 30, 2009 #8
    Foxhound lady

    Foxhound lady Songster

    463
    0
    129
    Jul 9, 2008
    TX baby!
    My EE is 1 week younger then my silkies and they get along wonderfully, she is their fearless leader
     
  9. Jan 30, 2009 #9
    CovenantCreek

    CovenantCreek Chicks Rule!

    1,360
    2
    171
    Oct 19, 2007
    Franklin, TN
    I kept my newly hatched chicks in the house for almost a week, then put them in the brooder outside with chicks nearly a week older. I've got another batch of chicks a week younger than the second batch that may end up in the brooder outside with all the others as well.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by: