Can I introduce new babies in with my 2 wk olds??

[E Buschjost]

I have 5 babes that hatched two weeks ago in the brooder. I had hoped for a better batch rate but that didn’t happen. So today I bought 10 new babies from the feed store. I have them in separate brooders for right now but when and how will I be able to integrate them? If I did it right now would they be mean to the littles??

 

[Smileybans]

I find it depends on the breed if they’ll pick or not. I actually just put a two week old leghorn in with three four day olds. I did this because the four day olds looked lost. Even though I tried to show them the water and food they wouldn’t go for it. Once I added the bigger bird they started eating and drinking. The leghorn even let the babies pick food off her beak.

But I also make sure all the babies can see each other before deciding who to put in with who. They can always see the others. So if you wanted to integrate them make it possible for the two groups to see each other but not touch. Then the chicks will decide if they want to be integrated. I find the new babies always want to be with the bigger birds if they can see each other.