10 week old chicks

[Neezone75]

Hi.. I have 3 ten week old chicks.. i wanted to buy 7 more that are about the same age, so you think they will have issues getting along at that age when I put them together?

 

[SueT]

Hi, welcome to BYC! You can temporarily make a see-no-touch set up and monitor reactions before you put them together. They may be young enough to be open minded about newcomers and need very little getting acquainted time. There are lots of great threads here about integrating newcomers.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!

 

[Neezone75]

Thank you so much! I will take your advice and keep you posted

 

[aart]

Hi.. I have 3 ten week old chicks.. i wanted to buy 7 more that are about the same age, so you think they will have issues getting along at that age when I put them together?

Welcome to BYC!
There will definitely already be some territoriality issues at that age.
Having enough space for 7 more birds, once they are all grown up, is an important thing to consider...and integrating new birds works best with some 'extra' space.
And also keep in mind the risk of bringing older birds(not day old chicks) into your flock,
always the risk of them bringing in pests and disease depending on the source of the birds.
Here's some info on bio-security and integration:

Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Neezone75]

Thank you for the information.. I found it extremely helpful, I appreciate it