For a myriad of reasons, my housemates and I chose to support local businesses and hatcheries when we decided to "go chicken," but we also wanted different breeds of chicken. We currently have a 2 week old Buff Orpington and a 2 week old Australorp, purchased from a new local store. Our cooperative hatchery called today telling us they have a 1 week old Dominique for us and a 3 week old Easter Egger. We need to pick them up tomorrow. 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 week?! Can we keep all of these different ages in the same brooder safely? If we have to separate them, will any 'lone chicks' be okay? The two we have now seem pretty inseparable and get really agitated if we part them for even a few minutes.
Oh yeah, they'll be fine. Rule of thumb is if they are within 3 weeks of each other, they'll be fine.