Different age chicks

[jsilva05]

I have 4 chicks that are 4 weeks old. I decided to get a a couple more. When I had them al in the brooder the older chicks started to peck at the younger. I separated them. My question is when should I try to incorporate them again?

Here are some pics of their sizes

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can get so many different answers to this because we all have had different experiences. Some people mix chicks those ages without problems, others have problems. Each chick is an individual and each flock has its own dynamics, even at that age. We all have different facilities and different management techniques which can make a difference too but the individual chicken personalities is the biggest factor. I’ve had a chick kill another chick that it was hatched with at two weeks of age. It’s not just the age difference. When you deal with living animals you don’t get guarantees on how they will behave. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing anything wrong.

I’ve had a broody hen wean her chicks at 3-1/2 weeks of age. They were left on their own to live with the adult flock and they did fine. That broody has spent her limited time protecting her chicks and integrating them with the flock but they were raised with the flock. I haven’t had any problems integrating five week old chicks with my adult flock. Some people have disasters when they try that. My brooder is in the coop and made of wire so those chicks were basically raised with the flock. They were not strangers. Also, I have a lot of room. The chicks can avoid the older chickens if they want to, and they generally do want to. I do think extra room is important.

What I suggest is that you house the new chicks next to the older ones behind wire so they can see each other but not get to each other. Let them get to know each other. You can try integrating them after a week or two of this but watch them. It may or may not work. You may have to separate them and try again later. I also suggest you have separate eating and drinking stations so they can eat and drink without having to challenge the older chicks. Give them as much room as you possibly can. Those chicks may merge and form one flock or they may form two separate flocks until the younger mature enough to force their way into the pecking order. That’s normally about the time they start to lay. When you integrate, room is important.

A safe haven can be very helpful. That may be a separate area with an opening only the younger can go through so they can get away from the older if they want to. That may be something to hide behind or under so they are out of sight of the older.

Don’t be too quick to push them to roost together either. As young as yours are it may be a couple of months before the older even start to roost at night, but if the groups want to sleep separately, let them. They will merge when they are ready. The most vicious I’ve seen my flock is when they are settling down to sleep for the night, especially on the roosts. Where they sleep depends on where the ones highest in the pecking order want to sleep. They can be pretty vicious in protecting their pecking order rights as they settle down.

What is the magic age that this will work out? There is none. Some have no problems at the ages you have. Especially if your space is tight you may need to wait until the younger ones are practically grown. Even then it can sometimes get kind of violent. It might work anywhere in between these extremes. It’s hard to emphasize how important enough room is. But a lot of it depends on the individual personality and flock dynamics too.

Good luck!

 

[jsilva05]

Thank you so so much