integrating chicks advice needed

[oaksbest]

I have 6 week old chicks and 8 day old chicks and I am looking to integrate them safely. They are currently in seprarate brooders and a box is being made so they can be seen and close but not touch. Considering the week old chicks are pretty active, when should I combine them? what are behaviors I should look out for? any advice?

 

[50-45-1]

I would wait. an 8 day old will be more dependent on heat, and more fragile than your older ones.
There must be quite a size differance, yes?
How many in each group? This would also factor in.
If we are just talking about 3 or 4 of each, then it could work
But of you have say 25 of each, I think the younger ones will suffer

 

[oaksbest]

I have 6 chicks who are 1 week old, and 8 that are a couple days old. There is a definite size difference between the two groups. I am more comfortable waiting, what is the best age to merge?

 

[DemeterAD9]

Ahh it sounded as if you had chicks that were 6 weeks old and another group that was a couple days old. Thank you for clarifying. Yes you can put them together without any problems. Of course make sure they have plenty of room and keep an eye on them for the next couple days.

I am also integrating some hatchery chicks with my own hatch. They are about 5 days apart and they're doing fine.

 

[oaksbest]

Okay,Thanks! I appreciate your help

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The key part here is space. I integrate chicks of varying ages every spring because I have multiple batches. Once they are out of the small fresh hatched chick space I have found that as long as there is enough space usually it is not an issue. Now, if you have them in totes or a small brooder I would wait until they are in the coop to integrate.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sometimes you can integrate chicks with this age difference without a problem. Sometimes. You do not get guarantees with living animals. I'm sorry but you just don't. I had a 2-week-old chick kill its 2-week-old sibling and hatchmate. No integration involved. It pecked at the head until the chick was dead. That is extremely rare but it happened. So no guarantees, even with no integration involved.

The key part here is space.

I agree. The more room you can give them the better. Crowding magnifies bad behavior. So discard those thoughts of square feet per chick and give them as much room as you reasonably can. You don't know what will happen. They may integrate and eat, play, and sleep together. The older chicks may mother the young ones, keeping them warm and showing them how to do things. Or you may wind up with two different flocks, keeping their distance from each other. You may have an older one that delights in attacking the younger ones. You just don't know.

I'd house them where they can see each other for a week or more, then when you can be around to observe let them mingle. See how it goes. You may need to intervene or you may be happily surprised.

Good luck!