adding 7 weeks olds to coop with 14 week olds

[jenesis536]

After I rehome a few of my babies, I will have 1 bo, 2 ees and 1 white lehorn (7-8 weeks). The 1 cochin I have is likely a male so I am rehoming him. I've been offered 3 cochin chicks and 2 cochin/ameraucana mix chicks (not EE) that are less than a week old right now. I plan on puttin the older ones out in the coop tomorrow. If I brood the babies for 6 weeks, will it be ok to add them to the coop with the older ones? There will be a 7 week age difference.

 

[Judy]

You can try it if you wish, but I would certainly supervise carefully. Generally things go the smoothest if they are all full size, and even then there will be some pecking and even squabbling. Probably what you are planning has been done successfully, too. You won't really know how it will go unless you try.

 

[jenesis536]

I have some room to partition off, so what I think I'll do is on warmer days have them in the same area but separated by chicken wire so they can see each other but not have contact... and just slowly get them used to having each other around. At night or when it is cold I'll put the chicks back in the brooder. When the little ones get a little bigger I'll let them sniff each other out without any barriers while we are watching them, and then when it is time to put them in the same coop I'll do it at night when the older ones are sleeping and just keep an eye on them.

I feel a little more comfortable about that age but I also have some 5 month olds nearby. I was offered a polish that is 6 months old, and I'm more scared to introduce her. I probably won't take her.