how to introduce week old chicks to two or three week olds

[hunter109]

i have some bigger chicks and was wanting to see how you introduce them together with younger chicks just wondering i mean if it ant safe i ant going to do it but the one i have that are bigger are feathering out nicely well what you all think

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Its always different...sometimes they do great and sometimes you get a bad few who pick on the little ones. I would say to try it out (if you have enough small ones it may be ok) and see how it goes. You can always put some sort of screen in between them or something where they can see each other for about a week and then take it out and see what happens. Usually at that age they do adapt pretty well

Best time to add them is in the dark and when they wake up they may not even notice they have new comers

But be there in the am to see how they all do just in case. Good luck!

 

[Katydid2011]

My thoughts are similar to those of Hangin Wit My Peeps. I would put a screen of some kind between the two groups of chicks and give them time to see each other and interact without risk of harm. While I know there are times when it works to put very young chicks in together without an introduction, it's by no means a sure thing and I wouldn't take the risk. I'd give the screen a week or two, then as was already suggested, integrate them in the dark so they wake up together. And I'd be there before daylight in the morning to make sure everyone wakes up on the right side of the bed.

I should qualify my suggestions by noting that I am not an expert and I tend to be cautious. I hope everything works out well!

 

[hunter109]

ok i will try that so thanks i will try that here soon

 

[pixiedouglas]

as long as your brooder is big enough that age difference shouldn't matter too much I added two chicks to my original 9 that were a week older and they were totally fine no problems, you would think they were all hatched together now

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I have found that under 4 weeks you can mix the ages (just make sure there are enough food and water dishes) after 4 weeks they start a pecking order and the younger ones will get pecked at and pushed away from the feeders.

 

[earnhardtlvr]

I'm not recommending this...but am just sharing how I introduced my chicks. They r 3-5 weeks old now and have been together for 2 weeks. I had the different ages in different brooders. Each night when I cleaned their brooders I would put them in a big box together and they would all huddle together until I was done. Then after about a few days of doing that, one evening I just put them all in the bigger brooder and just settled down and watched them for a bit.

Everyone got along and I have had no troubles with them. We moved them into their townhouse (big wood cart) last week util the secured run is done (hopefully this weekend) and then will move them to their big girl house!

 

[hunter109]

well thanks guys and gals i will try that well latter