Can I mix chick breeds?

[EatMorSteak]

Ok, so it's been 5 days since I got my 2 silver Sebright chicks. They are now 5 weeks old. I just tried today putting them into the chicken tractor with my 3 OEG bantam chicks which are 7 weeks old. The older chicks are bullying and pecking on the 2 younger chicks. I kept them in there for about an hour and now I've separated the younger ones again. I'm going to try again tomorrow and keep trying until they finally get along. There's still a pretty significant size difference with them only being 2 weeks apart in age. I don't feel comfortable keeping the 2 Sebright chicks in the coop with the older chicks until they put on a little more size. I guess I'd like to ask you folks how concerned should I be with the older chicks pecking at the younger chicks. Can I just let it happen and see if they eventually get tired of pecking at them and finally accept them? Or would doing so cause too much stress\\injuries to the younger chicks?

On another note there was a blace racer snake that came towards the free ranging OEG chicks today. The chicks were not frightened at all surprisingly and was very curious. Then the snake snapped at one of the chicks and tried to bite it. That is when I came in disposed of the snake with a shovel. I didn't want to take any chances of it sticking around and one day injuring or killing my chicks.

 

[Nicole01]

5 weeks old will be a little difficult. You will need to separate them. Like others said, use a separation panel if possible.

 

[EatMorSteak]

Thanks. I actually have the 2 new chicks in a separate cage and the 3 older chicks in the tractor. I was actually thinking about taking 2 of the OEG bantams out of the tractor and into the cage and putting the 2 younger Sebright chicks in the coop with only 1 of the OEG bantams for a day or 2. Maybe that will help. It will allow the new chicks to get comfortable being in the tractor so when I put the 2 OEG bantams back in the pecking order may need to be reestablished. Worth a shot I guess.

 

[Noobchick]

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this question. I will have a similar problem tomorrow I think, when I bring home two new chicks to meet the four I already have. The ones I have are 2 weeks old. I'll be tryin to get chicks as close to two weeks old and same size as the ones I have now.

Your question and the answers were helpful to me too. Thanks again!

 

[EatMorSteak]

Quote:
We're both learning as we go. Glad you're finding this info useful. Nothing like good advice from the good people here and some trial and error.