Integrating different age chicks.

[Appalachickens]

Currently I have 4 nine-week-olds out in the coop/run and 9 chicks (4 five-week-olds and 5 three-week-olds) in a 4x4 brooder set up in the garage. Yesterday I took just the five-week-olds out for a long visit and left them unattended in a dog crate for look-but-no-touch time. Today all 9 went out for a couple of hours. At one point will it be safe to let the little ones out amongst their bigger sisters. The older ones look like absolute beasts next to the younger ones!

 

[nuthatched]

Let them like that for a few days and then see if they'll mix.

 

[Appalachickens]

Let them like that for a few days and then see if they'll mix.

The smallest haven't fully feathered out yet, but I could try that next week.

 

[nuthatched]

The smallest haven't fully feathered out yet, but I could try that next week.

It's not essential of there's some way for them to keep warm.
Is it summer there?

 

[Appalachickens]

It's not essential of there's some way for them to keep warm.
Is it summer there?

There really isn't. It's summer here but we're heading into several days of rain and the only place I can keep them separate is at the end of the run in a crate. I don't think I can be sure they'd stay dry there. But now I'm hoping I can try that next weekend.