Chicks 2 weeks different in age...

[TerryH]

Good evening everyone. In order to get the breeds that we want we are going to be getting some chicks that are 1-2 weeks tomorrow and some that are 2 days old on Tuesday. Will there an issue with them all being in the same brooder? Suggestions on the best way to go about integrating them?

 

[Jensownzoo]

You may or may not have an issue. Chicks double in size every week, so the older chicks will be substantially larger than the 2 day olds and they may pick on them. If you have a big enough brooder with plenty of things to attract the older chicks' interest, then you may not have as much of a problem.

 

[TerryH]

You may or may not have an issue. Chicks double in size every week, so the older chicks will be substantially larger than the 2 day olds and they may pick on them. If you have a big enough brooder with plenty of things to attract the older chicks' interest, then you may not have as much of a problem.

Thanks for the reply. I've made a refrigerator box into a brooder. It's a little over 3'x3'. I can made it 3'x6' if I need to. 12 chicks total. I'm putting in some things for them to climb on, rocks and such.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Thanks for the reply. I've made a refrigerator box into a brooder. It's a little over 3'x3'. I can made it 3'x6' if I need to. 12 chicks total. I'm putting in some things for them to climb on, rocks and such.

Apparently shiny things like marbles and hand mirrors can also function as distractions.

 

[TerryH]

Apparently shiny things like marbles and hand mirrors can also function as distractions.

Thanks. We have both so I'll use those as well.

 

[TerryH]

Good news today. We were able to forgo the older chicks. The hatchery has more of the breeds we wanted hatching tomorrow so we are going to pick those chicks up on Tuesday when we pick up the others so the flock will all be within a day of the same age. Very cool that Tuesday is my wife's birthday as well.