Adding younger chicks to brood?

[Jmash]

Hello!
I am currently raising two chicks that are currently 14 days old. We had a raccoon attack, and I also really wanted to replace the breed of one of the chickens that died (a Welsummer). However, the hatchery where I get my chicks won't have that breed until 9/19, so the chicks will be 3 weeks apart.

How much of an issue is it if I add a third chick to the brood who is 3 week younger than the rest? The plan would be to have the new chick be seen, but not accessible for the first few days or up to a week and then let them be all together. I won't introduce until the main flock until the youngest is old enough to be outside (we live in Northern California, so temps stay relatively warm over winter, and fall is our warmest season!)...

Follow up question... should I be adding 2 chicks, instead of just one, so the youngest has a buddy???

TIA!

 

[azygous]

You've already answered your own question. That shows you should trust your instincts. There is a good possibility that two new chicks will be accepted into the flock of three-week olds. Even still, they will have different heat requirements and two new chicks will have the same ones and will need to snuggle. One chick can't snuggle with itself.

Have you thought about how to handle the differing heat needs? Three-week olds won't need any heat during the day, just at night, while the new chicks will require around the clock heat for the next couple weeks.

 

[Jmash]

Thank you so much for the reply! I had thought about that as well. Our brooder actually is in our walk in shower, so we have an inner box (where the heat panel is) and then an larger outer area which is covered in cardboard and bedding but is not as warm.
For night, I was planning on dividing the brooder in half with a screen, so each half has access to the heat panel and they can be as close or as far as they want.

So...definitely two chicks then! Got it!