Combining two sets of chicks into one coop

[AmeliaBee]

Hi all,
My family is currently raising two Americauna chicks in our home brooder (2weeks old). Our neighbors our currently raising four chicks (2 Saffire Rocks, 2 Austalorp) in their home brooder. They were purchased from the same co-op, all the same age. We will be sharing a currently unoccupied coop and are trying to figure out the best way to combine the two households. Neither set of chicks live in the coop yet - they could all go in at the same time. Any recommendationson how to do this successfully?

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you combine them in the new setting when they're still pretty young, the sudden change in environment should easily be enough to jog any pecking order they started establishing.

Young birds are generally much more accepting of new additions, and since these are the same age that eliminates any obvious size differences or heat requirements.

 

[AmeliaBee]

If you combine them in the new setting when they're still pretty young, the sudden change in environment should easily be enough to jog any pecking order they started establishing.

Young birds are generally much more accepting of new additions, and since these are the same age that eliminates any obvious size differences or heat requirements.

Thank you for your reply! This makes sense to me. Do you think some “visual introduction” beforehand will be helpful? We’re thinking of letting the two groups of chicks spend some time together outside in two separate, but adjacent, enclosures, in the week or two before they go into the coop. . .

 

[rosemarythyme]

Certainly wouldn't hurt for them to see each other first, if you want.

 

[aart]

Thank you for your reply! This makes sense to me. Do you think some “visual introduction” beforehand will be helpful? We’re thinking of letting the two groups of chicks spend some time together outside in two separate, but adjacent, enclosures, in the week or two before they go into the coop. . .

I'd just try to put them all in the coop at the same time.
What are you both using for heat?
Curious why you brooded them separately if they are all going to be living together later?