Chicks with chicks

[BLACKWATER7x62]

I have a few chicks in a brooder and bought 4 more maybe a week old. When can I put them together? The other chicks are about 2 weeks and 3 days.

 

[The Moonshiner]

How many is the "few" in the brooder?

 

[BLACKWATER7x62]

How many is the "few" in the brooder?

7

 

[rosemarythyme]

If the brooder has enough space for them all, they should be okay with a 10 day spread on ages.

 

[Sunni_Chick]

I'm in the same boat here -- I have 9 chicks coming from one hatchery and then I just ordered 3 more from another hatchery but they will be about 7 days apart in age. The 9 chicks I pick up on May 7th (3 Orpingtons, 3 Wyandottes, 2 Rhode Island Blues, 1 Blue Copper Marans) - all brown layers because I ordered them all based on personality and not really knowing much at all (first timer here ). My husband and I decided to look at other hatcheries for colored egg layers and the closest hatch date to mine was May 12th - I ordered an Opal Legbar, Frizzle Easter Egger and a Green Queen Easter Egger from My Pet Chicken. Chicks coming from both hatcheries will have their Marek's Vaccine. Am I able to put them together in the same brooder so they are together from the start (semi-start anyway). I think I will have enough space for 12 as I'm using a large 5 ft octagon tent.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm in the same boat here -- I have 9 chicks coming from one hatchery and then I just ordered 3 more from another hatchery but they will be about 7 days apart in age.

Am I able to put them together in the same brooder so they are together from the start (semi-start anyway). I think I will have enough space for 12 as I'm using a large 5 ft octagon tent.

A 1 week spread should be fine, the older ones will likely help show the younger ones the ropes.

 

[Sunni_Chick]

A 1 week spread should be fine, the older ones will likely help show the younger ones the ropes.

Thank you! That’s a relief!

 

[Sunni_Chick]

My new babies from MPC arrived this morning. My husband helped me configure some foam board with hardware cloth so the new babies can see the older babies (5 days between them). The batch of 9 turned into 11 when we picked them up last week (a week today). They are thriving! The new babies we picked up at 7am today from the post office and are doing awesome. Eating, drinking and curious of the others. Adding some pictures.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My new babies from MPC arrived this morning. My husband helped me configure some foam board with hardware cloth so the new babies can see the older babies (5 days between them).

Since this is likely very temporary it should be ok (since the little ones can join the slightly older ones in a matter of days), just keep an eye on the foam board as the chicks may pick at it if they realize they can.

 

[Sunni_Chick]

Since this is likely very temporary it should be ok (since the little ones can join the slightly older ones in a matter of days), just keep an eye on the foam board as the chicks may pick at it if they realize they can.

Very good point! Funny story -- I was watching on the cameras this morning during a meeting and noticed one of the older birds made it into the inside of the littles enclosed area. Poor big girl was so confused as to how she let that happen and was freaking out - chirping SO loudly! I got her and put her in her area and she was very content again.

Question tho - I am noticing the big girls are literally running from one end of the tent to the other like they are on a race track. Is this normal (they just turned 1 week old yesterday)? I am "very" new to all this but it is crazy to watch them run back and forth.