Can I Put Three Week Old Chicks in With Week Old Chicks

[mkeawsh]

I bought all my eggs at one time but when they were sent there was a two week gap. Is there some way I can put the three week old chicks with the one week old ones and not have the little ones beat up? It is possible for me to keep them separated, until I get them to the outside brooder and then I have only one. I can separate the brooder with fencing but would like to be able to incorporate them together, so when they get to the cruel world of my adult chickens

, they all cling together. I realize I will have to put the older ones with the adults before the younger ones but since I connect the brooder to the chicken tractor and the adults see them through the fencing this whole time, that the transition would be gradual and the older chicks would accept the younger ones when they have to be put with the rest of the flock and the two groups would cling together then too.

 

[patnjess]

I did, my older group was probably at least a month older, and the one most definate roo of the bunch became like a mama hen. The babies, follwed him around, and everytime he stood, babies would come out from underneath him.

 

[LauraCTChick]

Thank you for asking this question. I have week old chicks in a brooder bucket now and another round of hatchlings underway (the first couple just pipped). I was worried about having them all in one bucket once they hatched.

 

[mkeawsh]

Thanks. One thing not to have to worry about.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I do it all the time.

 

[goldnchocolate]

Quote:
That story is so adorable!!

 

[smallcitychick]

I did it (with chicks from the feed store and chicks shipped to me). I was worried that the older ones would beat up on the new little guys. But my 3 week olds were TERRIFIED of the new baby chicks. They stood in a corner for 2 hours after I added the babies, and it took at least 3 days before they actually acted like they were OK with the new little guys. It was actually kind of funny to watch.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I put my 3 weekers in with my 6 weekers (this was a long time ago), and i was watching closely because i was so nervous that something bad would happen.

Then i watched as two of the 3 week-old pullets walked right up to the 6 week-old cockerels and PECKED THEM IN THE EYE.

From then on, everyone was fine.

From what i can tell, the earlier you can integrate varying ages, the better.

ETA: A week later, i threw some one-week-olds into the bunch, and they've all lived together peacefully ever since.

 

[mkeawsh]

How do you adjust the temp in the brooder. The one week old are at 90 and the three are at 80. Does it make a difference?

 

[patnjess]

well now here is where I'm not technical, there is plenty of room, thoe who need more heat go towards it, those that don't go away.