Adding more chicks to the brooder

[CDA15]

We have 4 week old chicks and I'd like to add a few more. Is it too late to just add them into the brooder or would I need to separate for a bit and then integrate them? Thanks in advance!

 

[NorthTexasWink]

For bio security, I'd keep them separate. Also, if the chicks you are adding are younger than your 4week old, even by just a week, the younger ones might be pecked and pushed away from feed and water.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's really up to you... the pros of simply adding them to the group is that at this age, they have no real social order and are far more likely to accept newcomers without much fuss, as long as they are all about the same size. The cons are of course biosecurity concerns and maybe some picking issues if there isn't adequate space and resources in your brooder.

I got my chicks all from the same source so I decided to chance it and put them all together rather than quarantine and that worked out for me.

 

[chickens really]

Age difference plays a big role here ... Look no touch pens and your 4 week olds can be outside full time...

 

[lazy gardener]

Their heat needs are very different. if your brooder is less than 2 s.f./chick you will have problems with this age variation b/c the youngsters may get crushed by the older ones. I have put chicks with 3 week age span together, but they were brooded outside, the hatchlings were by themselves for the first week, then they were integrated with supervison.

 

[Mrs. K]

Measure your brooder, and count the chicks. Are we talking adding two or twenty? Makes quite a difference. 4 weeks to 4 days - huge difference, 8 weeks - 4 weeks not quite as much.

 

[CDA15]

Their heat needs are very different. if your brooder is less than 2 s.f./chick you will have problems with this age variation b/c the youngsters may get crushed by the older ones. I have put chicks with 3 week age span together, but they were brooded outside, the hatchlings were by themselves for the first week, then they were integrated with supervison.

I didn't think about the heat difference. That's something to take in consideration!

 

[CDA15]

Measure your brooder, and count the chicks. Are we talking adding two or twenty? Makes quite a difference. 4 weeks to 4 days - huge difference, 8 weeks - 4 weeks not quite as much.

Thinking about adding 2 or 3 more. My current flock spends their evenings in the brooder and now that their coop/ covered run is finished, I send them out there for the day since the weather has been so nice. I'm debating setting up a heating pad in the coop itself so that they can start spending their nights in the coop. That would leave the brooder open for the new group.

 

[aart]

How many 4 week olds do you have?
How big is the coop, in feet by feet?
I split my coop with a wire wall and brood chicks there with heating pad after a week inside. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

4wo's might not need heat any longer, might set them up with a huddle box instead:
Make them a 'huddle box', put it in the brooder after turning off the heat(you might have to 'persuade' them to use it) then move it out to the coop with them.

Cardboard box with a bottom a little bigger than what they need to cuddle next to each other without piling and tall enough for them to stand in.

Cut an opening on one side a couple inches from bottom and big enough for 2-3 of them to go thru at once.

Fill the bottom with some pine shavings an inch or so deep.

This will give them a cozy place to sleep/rest, block any drafts and help hold their body heat in.

 

[CDA15]

How many 4 week olds do you have?
How big is the coop, in feet by feet?
I split my coop with a wire wall and brood chicks there with heating pad after a week inside. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

4wo's might not need heat any longer, might set them up with a huddle box instead:
Make them a 'huddle box', put it in the brooder after turning off the heat(you might have to 'persuade' them to use it) then move it out to the coop with them.

Cardboard box with a bottom a little bigger than what they need to cuddle next to each other without piling and tall enough for them to stand in.

Cut an opening on one side a couple inches from bottom and big enough for 2-3 of them to go thru at once.

Fill the bottom with some pine shavings an inch or so deep.

This will give them a cozy place to sleep/rest, block any drafts and help hold their body heat in.

Great article and suggestion on the huddle box. Our coop is 4x8 with a run that is 12x8. We currently have 7 chicks, 2 of which are looking like I'll have to rehome since they are looking more and more like roos. So I was thinking of adding 2 or 3 more. One of them is an EE and I really wanted a colored egg layer in our flock. Plus I think I'm addicted to these chickens and just want more! Am I crazy?!?