at what age can I merge slightly-different-age poults?

[patandchickens]

I have six heritage bronze poults hatched this past Thursday/Friday from the incubator, plus two more hatched today and may have two more hatch in the next day or two. So, at least a 4-day difference in age, all still VERY young.

At what age can I put em all together in the same brooder, without risking problems? There are also 3 chicks in the brooder with last weeks' poults, hatched at the same time, if that matters.

(The eggs just hatching now are from a broody turkey hen who apparently hadn't the sense to stop laying when she started sitting. She hatched one poult on Saturday night; I took the remaining four eggs away from her yesterday into the incubator cuz she was ignoring the already-out poult in favor of sitting on them. I was afraid she'd ignore the existing poult to death and/or accidentally stomp or walk away from the unhatched eggs, two of which were peeping. Dunno if I did the right thing, but <shrug>. This is her second brooding of the year, her first clutch got smashed not too long before hatching, so I feel like she deserves SOME kind of baby to raise as reward for her dedication

)

THanks very much,

Pat

 

[Tunastopper]

My brooder has poults of different ages as much as two weeks apart. I will not put day old in with older poults until they are strong and eating good. Usually three days old. After that I don't have a problem.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

With only a couple days difference in the ages they will be fine, make sure they aren't crowded and that all are esting.

Steve

 

[tony garza]

What about a six week difference. I have a grow out pen with black spanish, BSW and nars. They are from 2 to 3 months old. I have some BRs that are about a month old. Can I put them all together ??? The BRs are not much smaller that the BSWs.

Tony

 

[BubAnna Angus]

I've heard if you put them in together while it's dark out, they will acclimate easier when it gets light.
I've put pretty young birds in with the older ones without too much of a problem, but there areas available for the smaller ones to "escape" from the older ones.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Quote:
I never had any problems mixing young turkeys like yours I mixed 6 week old ones with 2 1/2 month olds and the hens mothered those younger ones it was cute but I did it at dusk and stayed with them for a bit before leaving to make sure...

 

[tony garza]

Thanks for the info. I'll try it tomorrow evening.

 

[patandchickens]

Thanks! I will let the two newly hatched ones finish resting and 'getting their feet under them', and then put them in with the others. Three eggs left in the 'bator, dunno if they'll do anything but since she clearly kept laying for A While after starting to set I will give them at least a few days before I give up.

Much appreciated,

Pat

 

[Marshmallow Man]

Our midget white hen just keeps on laying so we have been putting a few in the incubator once a week. We have all different ages together. The baby chicks do fine with the turkeys too. Only problem is if they get crowded and a chick gets suffocated. No hostile behavior like you get with chickens.

 

[u8sushi]

I have narragansettes of all ages living together. 4 weeks old up to 6 month old. No real problems. In fact one of the older birds, a tom, would leave the others on the high out door perch and go across the yard to where the youngsters roost. they would cry until he came to sleep with them.