Adding a Single Chick

[kristinhennifer]

I have a friend who has a single 1 week old roo and I am wanting one for our upcoming flock. I already have 10 2 week olds in my brooder. Do you think it'll be okay to add just one to the mix at this age?

 

[Yardmom]

The personality of the birds will determine how easy this is. You might be able to put him in and they will act like nothing happened. Make sure the younger chick is getting food and water.
If the older ones pick on the younger one, make a section in the brooder where they can see but not touch the younger one. Then try again in a couple of days.

 

[Iluveggers]

If you try him and they don’t accept him right away (usually at that age they are pretty good), you could take one of the chicks out and add it with him in one side of the brooder, giving them a separate space to get used to each other. Add another the next day to make it 3, and keep adding in one of the old ones until they are all together. This works especially well if it is just one bird picking on the new chick…save that one to add last.