Can I mix 3 week olds with newly hatched?

[QuackerOats]

I have two 11 day old RIR chicks and 12 potential chicks in the 'bator scheduled hatch in two more weeks. Is it okay to mix these chicks in the same cage? I am not sure how big my chicks will be in 2 weeks, they are growing so fast!

I will be keeping all 14 potential chicks until they are old enough to tell the roosters from the hens. Then I have to pick two hens to keep. I can't imagine how I will choose that...

When will I be able to tell?

Another question just popped in my head... do chicks start to poop less as they get older? The first few days I found myself cleaning their cage out 3 times a day. Now its gone down to 2 and I feel like there is less poo!

I'd say thats a nice thing!

Thanks!



Edited to add second paragraph

 

[FF]

No. I wouldn't. I did that but mine were only a week apart. Good Luck.

 

[QuackerOats]

What happened to them?

 

[yotetrapper]

Depends. I've done it. Depends how many of your 12 hatch. If you have, say, 8 babies versus 2 bigger you should be able to do it. But watch em close the first hour or so. A few exploratory pecks is no big deal but if the big ones are really rough on the babies you'll have to seperate them.

 

[bock]

I tried to give 2 2 day olds to my broody with 3 2 week old chicks. The broody loved them, but her chicks were attacking the new babies until they hid in the corner. I had to rescue the chickies, and they are very happy now.

 

[BGCNVLA]

I wouldn't do it. I had a couple two week old's in with some new babies and one got squished. I found him flat as a pancake in the morning. I think they were laying on top of him and didn't know it.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I got 8 chicks on Friday and 1 or them was a Black Jersey Giant and it was already a few weeks old. And I got some silkies and the bigger chicks wouldn't quit pecking and chasing the smaller ones around so I wouldn't suggest putting them together until they're older.

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

If you do try I would wait until they are 'up and running'!! I put some newly hatched in with chicks 4 DAY older chicks and the bigger ones pecked the crap out of the little ones. even made its comb bleed. So I separated them for maybe 2 days til the smaller ones were strong enough to RUN!!! all is perfect now!!