BLRW chicks...**PICS added**Advice on raising 26 st run-

[eponagirl]

First off let me just say I think they mixed up the order and gave me Gremlins instead of chicks!

These guys seem to be very active and growing right before my eyes!

This is the first time I am raising "boys with girls". There are 26 BLRW's, Blue and Black Wyandottes, with at least 10 roos so far that I can tell. They are 3 weeks old this Monday.
My questions: (sorry if some are obvious...I had a head injury a few days before they arrived and I'm doing my best since then!)

What age will I need to separate them (or just separate when they start getting too rambunctious?)
What age will I have to worry about the roos seriously harming each other if they all live in the same space for awhile?
If I choose to keep a rooster or two for breeding, what age will I best be able to tell which one to pick?

Any thing else I should know about mixed chick group dynamics? Right now all the chicks are living together in large dog crates in my living room. They are getting feisty, so I am going to expand the space.

Thanks for any advice!

Scroll down for pics added on my reply...

 

[Katy]

I raise Wyandottes and they are a slow maturing breed, so it takes a long time before you can tell for sure who's going to be the better of the roosters. I've only had two roos who didn't get along and had to be seperated. As far as too many roosters for the number of hens, you won't have to worry about seperating them for several months.

 

[peggym]

I've raised roos and hens together from day one. The roos don't fight as much as you would think. They usually have a pecking order just like the hens. My blue cochin roo is the boss and my black langshan roo just runs from him! But that doesn't stop the young un from trying all the girls when he gets a chance.!!!!!!

 

[onthespot]

If you find young ones pecking and fighting, give them more room, change their water more often and a few more feed dishes, always have fresh food available, and places to hide behind or under, perch on, or hop up on will help cut social stress. If you split them up as youngsters you will have social stress again as they reintruduce when they are older, and it will be a higher level of strong personalities interacting than when they are chicks. Just accomodate their needs as a whole group and gradually remove the ones you decide not to keep, which you won't know for months from now. Good luck, and post pics!!!

 

[eponagirl]

Ok, great! So basically, just continue good care and worry about it later!

Here are some pics to enjoy! They are a lively bunch from Jesse Paul, unfortunately it looks like a few are single comb, but perhaps that is too be expected when you get a bunch?

The pic above and below are the same Splash laced red chick...I've suspected from day one that is a roo...but still hoping for pullet!
Edited to add: This chick seems to be most dominate and largest so far, but sweet to me.

The pic above and below are either blue laced or black laced red wyandottes...thinking blue because I have a couple that are even darker laced??

Below is a cute Blue chick:

 

[ChickenMama18]

They are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[eponagirl]

I have to say, they are "stinkin' cute"!! They all come running when they hear my voice...the voice of FOOD I'm sure!

It's been good chick therapy as I heal from an injury! I find it fascinating to watch their dynamic together and to keep guessing at the boys. I had all girls last time, so this is interesting.