1 week seperation of age- issue?

[congdon476]

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?

 

[TXmom]

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.

 

[DouglasPeeps]

They should be just fine to put them together. I would just keep an eye on them at first.

 

[Wynette]

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.

 

[Chicken Woman]

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.

 

[Buster]

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.

 

[congdon476]

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

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).

 

[Foxhound lady]

My EE is 1 week younger then my silkies and they get along wonderfully, she is their fearless leader

 

[CovenantCreek]

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.