Do I need to isolate chicks before mixing with my current chicks?

[Jada22]

Long post-skip a bit if you wish

I currently have 9 chicks in the brooder that I bought 2 weeks ago at approx a week old.
I wanted silkies and polish- breeder had one silkie left, I thought I was getting mostly polish one silkie and maybe one or 2 different chicks. The silkie chick is not a silkie- even the breeder is puzzled as to what this chick is. The 2 polish are actually mixed and the remaining chicks are different breeds.

I went and bought a trio of silkies 3 days ago, I currently have them isolated from my flock of 2 hens (yes I am jumping from 2 hens to a crazy number) I’ve read on the importance of isolating due to potential diseases.

*I’ve found a breeder selling polish chicks and I’m buying 4- they’re 3 and a half weeks old
I’m wondering if I also need to isolate these chicks or if they can mix with the 3 week olds I already have. The breeder only breeds gold laced polish- he has day old chicks and 3 week old chicks and it seems they were incubated and brooded by him (not under a hen) not sure if this makes any difference.*

I am very new to this, I’ve had hens for years but always the same type and never chicks. Yes I am a bit crazy but I feel this site is partially responsible

 

[IvysAnimals]

It's better to quarantine them before and then to condition them to get used to each other...Hope that helps!

 

[Jada22]

It's better to quarantine them before and then to condition them to get used to each other...Hope that helps!

How long would they need to be quarantined for? I’ve heard it’s easier to mix chicks under 6 weeks. How far apart from eachother would they need to be kept?
The current chicks are in my house, it’s an open plan house pretty much just one big room so I’m not sure if I can isolate effectively in here. I could isolate elsewhere I just prefer being able to watch them

 

[IvysAnimals]

About 2+ weeks is best, if they're looking fine and are healthy, you might be able to mix before that. I still suggest waiting 2 weeks, though.

 

[Jada22]

About 2+ weeks is best, if they're looking fine and are healthy, you might be able to mix before that. I still suggest waiting 2 weeks, though.

Okay thank you

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you actually able to do a true biological quarantine? https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/

If you cannot realistically follow the recommendations in that article, you might as well skip quarantine in favor of integrating, as younger birds will integrate to one another more easily.

As a general rule younger birds are less likely to be vectors for disease, however since you did not get these birds from a biosecure hatchery there probably is a low level of risk.

 

[Jada22]

Are you actually able to do a true biological quarantine? https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nderestimated-part-of-raising-chickens.67097/

If you cannot realistically follow the recommendations in that article, you might as well skip quarantine in favor of integrating, as younger birds will integrate to one another more easily.

As a general rule younger birds are less likely to be vectors for disease, however since you did not get these birds from a biosecure hatchery there probably is a low level of risk.

Honestly not at 100ft. unless they were closer to my hens instead or the birds currently in quarantine.