2 by 2?

[MillieTu]

Hi I'm a newbie.

Can anyone give me some help and guidance on this. I am thinking of getting 2 chicks at a time probably 6 months apart, do you think this would be a good idea?

A few people mentioned a new chick might get picked on but if I introduce 2 at a time this might not happen?

Help please

 

[sourland]

Any time birds are introduced to an established flock there will be pecking/fighting. Is there any possibility that you could get the 4 birds at the same time?

 

[JanetMarie]

Bad idea. Get all the chicks at one time that way they are all the same age and that will be better for them. Also, if one of your 2 chicks die then you are left with one lone chick.

 

[MillieTu]

Thank you for replies, I have 2 that are a week old now is it a bad idea to another 2 now??

 

[bobbi-j]

Doing it now would be better than doing it later. And I'd give the babies a week or so to get a little closer to the same size. Unless, of course, you get a couple of more week-old ones.

 

[ECBW]

They are like kids. Little kids can go to any playground and find a playmate. Teenagers would only go in pack and look suspiciously at everyone else.

At a few weeks old, integration should be no problem.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not hesitate to add a couple more at this time. You might want to put a divider in the brooder, and keep them apart until the younger ones are agile on their feet. Then supervise their meeting.

 

[tcstoehr]

Thank you for replies, I have 2 that are a week old now is it a bad idea to another 2 now??

That is in fact a very good idea. Get that done immediately if you haven't already.

 

[DanEP]

I have some 2 week old chicks and 3 week old chicks in my brooder right now. the older chicks were 9 days old when I put the 3 day old chicks in with them. the only problem was the little guys couldn't keep up with the older guys for a few days but that worked out just fine. Chicks are much easier to integrate than than 6 month old pullets.

 

[MillieTu]

I have got 2 10 day Bluebelles coming tomorrow

I will introduce them slowly. I will be adding 2 Silkies when they are around 14 weeks but I can keep them separate for a while. I'm sticking at 6 I promise