Can I mix chicks?

[RachelVT]

I'm getting 5 chicks from a hatchery but I was thinking in case I lose one or two, of getting a couple extra. I would get these from my local feed store. Now I'm wondering if I can put them together or if it would be exposing one another to unknown bacteria or stuff since they came from different place. I thought that may be harmful to them is this possible?

 

[jerseygirl1]

I've mixed chicks and not had problems, as long as they were born within a week of each other. Some from breeder, some from hatchery, some my own hatches

 

[cubalaya]

you never know how many people handled those chicks at the feed store. i would keep them seperate for a week or 2

 

[christa7032]

Ive mixed them from 2 different feed stores & had no problems at all. They were about the same age though.

 

[Kittymomma]

I do it. Cross contamination is always a possibility, but I feel the risk is minimal when you're dealing with hatchery/feedstore chicks. I won't mix ones that I buy off the farm though since they usually have been exposed to more stuff--not always a bad thing since they tend to be pretty hardy, but not anything I want to expose the other chicks to either.