Day olds with four week olds?

[Itz_Kitkat]

I just unexpectedly got two Brahma chicks right now they are 4 days old but I’m planning on getting some tolbunt polish day old in March when they would be 4 weeks old. I know this can be done BUT the Brahmas would be bigger than regular 4 week olds so would that work with tolbunt polish?

 

[The Moonshiner]

You can try it since you say it can be done but I would not.

 

[Iluveggers]

If you can split a large brooder in half with screen, your 4 week olds should be feathered & not need heat. You would then let them get used to each other until you can move both groups outside still separated until they get close to the same size. If they seem to not bother each other after a few weeks, you could try integrating with supervision. I would want to be confident there is no agression before letting freely mix. There’s a big size difference when you have day olds & month olds, especially with the breeds you are getting.

 

[Sara S]

If you can split a large brooder in half with screen, your 4 week olds should be feathered & not need heat. You would then let them get used to each other until you can move both groups outside still separated until they get close to the same size. If they seem to not bother each other after a few weeks, you could try integrating with supervision. I would want to be confident there is no agression before letting freely mix. There’s a big size difference when you have day olds & month olds, especially with the breeds you are getting.

That’s exactly what I was thinking

 

[Itz_Kitkat]

If you can split a large brooder in half with screen, your 4 week olds should be feathered & not need heat. You would then let them get used to each other until you can move both groups outside still separated until they get close to the same size. If they seem to not bother each other after a few weeks, you could try integrating with supervision. I would want to be confident there is no aggression before letting freely mix. There’s a big size difference when you have day olds & month olds, especially with the breeds you are getting.

I think i'll try that i just want a big group when i put them in the main flock.

 

[Anime2lover]

I just unexpectedly got two Brahma chicks right now they are 4 days old but I’m planning on getting some tolbunt polish day old in March when they would be 4 weeks old. I know this can be done BUT the Brahmas would be bigger than regular 4 week olds so would that work with tolbunt polish?

I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Itz_Kitkat]

I wouldn't risk it.

I’m going to try the mesh separating them as the tolbunts are WAY to expensive to risk them ( 60/chick )

 

[Anime2lover]

I’m going to try the mesh separating them as the tolbunts are WAY to expensive to risk them ( 60/chick )

Ok.

 

[raingarden]

I've nevr been able to mix new hatchlings with anything more than about two days difference in age. The older ones like to drag the younger ones around by their feet. When you divide the brooder then a separate water font is needed for each section. It gets crowded quick.

 

[AUChickenGal]

I do it all the time (up to 6 weeks' difference in ages) and have never had a problem, but I have a very large brooder and am usually dealing with fairly small numbers of chicks. I also don't have anywhere near the financial investment in my chicks that you do! If you're worried, a wire/mesh divider is a safe way to start. I've found having the older chicks in with the younger ones means I don't have to teach the newbies where the food, water, and heat plate are. You can also look at my thread from Sunday to see how well this year's mixed aged brood are getting on - my 5 week old Bielefelder pullet is serving as a surrogate mother hen to her 2 week old friends.