Can I put any new chicks...

[crazyhen]

6 weeks is a hard age to start mixing. They have established their pecking order by then. I would do as haemony suggested. That should be a good answer. If they were closer in age or size it would have helped too. Size when that young is so different. I usually wait until my young hens are about the size of the older hens when mixing them also and letting them be beside each other and get use to seeing each other before mixing. Also taking the pecking hen out for a bit will help. Then they have to make a new pecking order. It is a tricky part to mix flocks after they are 6 weeks old. Gloria Jean

 

[NanaLantana]

I started with two sets of chicks - when the first set was 4 weeks old, I wanted some more. Next time, I'm going to get more of the same age to begin with! I had to brood them separately - Once the first set went outside, I was still babying the second set. It seemed like caring for babies went on forever! I didn't get them totally integrated until they were almost the same size, at about 4 & 5 months. So I spent about 5 months with two separate sizes of babies. I thought it was a lot of work. I'm now pleased with my efforts, and some here would seem to not mind the extra work, but it was a lot for me. I'm glad mine are all big now, and the first set getting ready to lay. I keep asking them "Where are my brown eggs?"

You pretty much have to keep them separate, to keep the young ones safe. Once they grow up with no health/injury incidences, you'll be glad you did, even though it is extra work.

 

[Mommysongbird]

Okay, but what happens if you have a small flock and you have a broody hen later on (older) and she hatches chicks? Will the others accept those chicks easier??

That is not what I want to do since we won't have a roo around to have any fertile eggs. I thought that maybe by the time ours our about 4 or 5 months old that we could probably hatch some more chicks unless July/August is too late in the year to add more chicks. Our currant chicks will be 6 months old at the end of August. If I set some eggs now, they would hatch by June 20 or so and be 6 weeks by August 1 or so. Would this work or not??

 

[WVChickenFarmer]

I was wondering about this myself. My oldest chicks are 7 weeks and youngest are almost 2 weeks now. I guess I will have keep mine separated until they are the same size.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Your silkies may be perfectly fine with new babies. One of the traits of their breed is they are friendly, docile, and great parents. I had a silkie rooster who would regularly steal chicks from my broodies. He did a great job taking care of them, in fact it was very sweet watching him feed and sit on chicks. Just keep in mind that every family has at least one crazy. The only way to know would be to try. At six weeks old, even if your silkies do take to new chicks, I would be worried about them stepping on them. Good luck- worst case scenario: you'll need 2 brooders.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have tried this myself (new chicks with silkies around 6 weeks old) and everyone ignored the chicks except the roosters and one hen. The roosters came up and inspected them, then walked away.

One hen just wouldn't leave them alone (ok, pullet). She was going for them, alright, so I removed them.

I think 6 weeks is a little old, even for a laid-back silkie (until the new chicks are a little older).

You can always try it though under supervision, as chickens are individuals.

When the new chicks are around 8 weeks old I would think would be a nice window of opportunity.

 

[Jencleg]

Sooo, what if the chicks are a lil older? Like 2 1/2- 3 weeks old? and a bigger breed so that they are closer in size??

 

[KPietsch]

Hi,
I have 3 chickens that are going to be 6 weeks old this weekend. I have the "Chicken Hotel" that has 3 older chickens in it from a few years ago. I have divided off the hotel to keep them sperated for awhile. Can you tell me how long that "Awhile" should be...am thinking is when they get closer in size.
Next, how long do I need to keep the heat lamp going at night for them? I am In the California Bay area.
Thank you for your help
Chicken Mom