Can I put 8 week old chicks in coop with 3 month olds ?

[NewHobbyForMe]

Hello to all, can someone tell me if my 3 months olds will bother the 8 week old chicks. Should I keep them in a cage and then put them in there? I have four 3 month old RIRs, four barred rocks 8 wks old, four buff orphingtons. They all have full feathers and I will be using a heat light at all times for them in coop. thank you for any feed back.

 

[silkypie]

I don't know what everyone else will say but I don't think you should. When I put my younger BR with my few weeks older RI/LH they were picked on mercifully so I separated them again. But that's only my advice!

 

[captainmoose]

When I add new chickens to the flock I section off part of the coop with chicken wire. That way they can see and get use to one another. I also have two runs that are divided by wire, one is 12x20 and the other is 20x20. Each run has its own pop door, they can see each other when they are in the coop or in the run. After about a month I take down the divider in the coop and the all use the same run. I have never had any problems, the old girls still need to let the new ones know who is boss.

 

[NewHobbyForMe]

Thank you very much, very helpful information. My coop is only 10 ft by 4 ft. Husband is gonna love making it bigger.

 

[JayBird+16]

I agree with Captainmoose, that's what I do as well. By the time I take the divider down the older chickens are already use to the littles and no one gets picked on.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I put 3 month old chicks in with my Rooster and 3 hens and they got along fine, but I think Silkies are just naturally sweeter than other breeds.

I wouldn't do that with my Australorps.

 

[cobrien]

agree with keeping them separated with some visibility when confined. it also helps if you can let them out to free range with lots of space together before you confine them together.