Adding younger chicks?

[Emily77]

I have 15 chicks all 3 weeks old, was thinking of adding a couple of black australorps. Brand new australorp chicks will be available in a couple of days - will they integrate alright being 3 weeks younger? Or do they need to be separate or supervised or something.

 

[lazy gardener]

They will have different heat requirements. If you are brooding in your house, your 3 week olds should be weaned off heat by now. Where are you brooding your chicks? What size brooder? I think I would brood them separately at this point and then integrate them ASAP when the BA are 4 - 5 weeks old.

 

[BoyTheRooster]

Keep them separate, the older chicks may hurt or bully the younger ones because they'll be smaller. It's better to introduce them slowly, and when the younger one's have caught up in size, around 6-8 weeks? Maybe longer

 

[Emily77]

They will have different heat requirements. If you are brooding in your house, your 3 week olds should be weaned off heat by now. Where are you brooding your chicks? What size brooder? I think I would brood them separately at this point and then integrate them ASAP when the BA are 4 - 5 weeks old.

You’re gonna laugh...my brooder is a tent in my basement, carpeted with pee-pads with pine shavings on top(pics attached). They have boxes and perches and a swing. What, I said you’re gonna laugh. The current chicks seem to all have different heat preferences at different times as it is. Sometimes there’s a pile near the lamp, sometimes they’re scattered more in the shade. That said, I think the heat situation will be ok for everyone. I’m more concerned the older ones will pick on the little ones.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm glad you have a nice big brooder. You can always try it and see. If it doesn't work, you can go to plan B.

 

[BoyTheRooster]

You’re gonna laugh...my brooder is a tent in my basement, carpeted with pee-pads with pine shavings on top(pics attached). They have boxes and perches and a swing. What, I said you’re gonna laugh. The current chicks seem to all have different heat preferences at different times as it is. Sometimes there’s a pile near the lamp, sometimes they’re scattered more in the shade. That said, I think the heat situation will be ok for everyone. I’m more concerned the older ones will pick on the little ones.

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen It is a great set up though

I do think keep the younger chicks separate until they grow a bit. Maybe split the tent down the middle somehow? That way the chicks can share the space and hear (maybe see) each other but not interact directly

 

[blackdog043]

my brooder is a tent in my basement

That's something I've never seen used for a brooder, it looks like a nice set up. I would give it a try with the new chicks.

Is your heat lamp attached with more than the clamp? If not, please secure it with wire or chain also, so it doesn't fall and start a fire.

 

[Quik1th]

You’re gonna laugh...my brooder is a tent in my basement, carpeted with pee-pads with pine shavings on top(pics attached). They have boxes and perches and a swing. What, I said you’re gonna laugh. The current chicks seem to all have different heat preferences at different times as it is. Sometimes there’s a pile near the lamp, sometimes they’re scattered more in the shade. That said, I think the heat situation will be ok for everyone. I’m more concerned the older ones will pick on the little ones.

I love it! Add a slide!

I am using a premier heating plate and we have staggered age chicks. 3 1/2 wks, 2 1/2 wks and 1 1/2 wks. They are all getting along well and snuggling together when sleeping. With this heat plate you can stagger the leg height to make one end higher so the chicks who need less heat have more room and ones who need more heat can go to the lower end. This has just been my experience so far and this is my first batch of chicks. Not an experienced chicken lady.

Since you have 15 of the bigger chicks and they are farther apart in age it might not work though.

 

[Emily77]

@blackdog043 yes, the heat lamp is hung with a bungee cord. Thanks for checking
@Quik1th a slide! Ha! I have a friend who said he thought his setup was totally awesome until I came along with my Cirque de Soleil for chickens .
I added all these things (larger scale) to the chicken run expansion last year, but those old chickens had never seen anything but mud so they didn’t hardly look at them. Thought I’d get these girls accustomed to them early, and I’m so tickled every time one jumps up on the swing! It cracks me up! There’s 2 on it right now (attaching pic.)
Thanks to everyone for input; I’m going to have a smaller pen inside the tent for the new littles, with some limited supervised together time here and there so they get used to each other before they’re all outside together.

 

[Lope4Life]

I love your brooder! It’s like a little campsite just for them!