2 Week Brooding Age Gap

[apryl29]

Last spring I ordered chicks online, they were 3 days old when they arrived. Only 2 survived so I bought 6 chicks from TSC that were about a week old & they were fine together. Then 2 weeks later I got 4 - one week old chicks and put them in with them and everything was fine, except everyone kept pecking at the australorp's white spot on her wing at first. Then 2 weeks later I got 4 - one day old chicks. The big ones from TSC wouldn't leave them alone and the were scared of everyone. I put them in a wire hamster cage for a couple weeks and put the cage in the brooder w/ everyone else. Eventually the little were as big as my bantams and the big ones didn't mess w/ them as much. Just remember that as they get bigger they're going to start jumping and trying to fly so your divider will need to go all the way to the top of the pen.

 

[FullHouseMama]

I purchased 3 brahmas locally that were almost 2 weeks old by the time my order came from the hatchery. I put them all in together and haven’t had any problems so far. They all snuggle on and off the bigger ones are just more active.