combining chicks from 2 groups

[mdulik]

I wanted to start raising chickens this year so I built a brooder, and a coup and ordered some chicks online. I was at Tractor supply and they had chicks in so I was a sucker for them and came home with 15 chicks. We were doing great until I went back to TSC yesterday for other supplys and came home with 10 more. My online order wont be here until May 5th. I have my brooder built like a duplex so I have the 2 groups from TSC split up. I would like to combine them, but when is the best time to do it. My concern is that the older chicks will harm the younger ones.. and one more question for us newbie chick owners... how often are you supposed to feed them. So far I have just been leaving the feeders full so they can eat when they want. is this right or wrong. should they be on a feeding schedule? Thanks for any help I can get.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know the difference in the ages of your Tractor Supply chicks. Different people have different success in trying it. Age difference is part of it. Personality of the individual chicks and how much room they have in the brooder is also part of it. If you are going to try it, I'd do it as young as possible. And put the older chicks in with the younger chicks so the older ones are not as territorial. It might work great and it might be a disaster. I personally would not even consider it with a month's age difference, but I'm sure some people have had success doing even that.

It is best to make sure they have feed and especially water 24/7 unless you are raising the Cornish cross meat birds. It is usually better to fill the feeders only half full so they don't spill as much feed. They will still spill a bunch.

Good luck!!!