Introducing 3 week olds to 8 week olds

[Deepwoodz86]

I have one set of chicks in the brooder 8 saph gems 2 roos 6 hens. I want to order some salmon faverolles when I order my next batch of meat birds. If I do when the favers turn 3 weeks and are about ready to go out (temp dependent) the gems will be 8 weeks and will have been out in the coop for 5 weeks (temp dependent). If I drop 2 or 3 three week old chicks into a coop (64 sqft) with 8 eight week old saph gems am I going to run into any problems? Will I need a chicken crib? I'm hoping they're all so young it wont matter.

 

[llombardo]

It can go either way. As I'm learning faverolles are sweet non violent and can get picked on. I probably have the longest integration in chicken history.

 

[Robert G]

It can go either way. As I'm learning faverolles are sweet non violent and can get picked on. I probably have the longest integration in chicken history.

I agree with that it can go either way. After 4 weeks, I believe the pecking order is established and new chicks will have to go through the pain of that order. I was able to add a couple that were a week younger without issues, but when I tried to add some that were more than that, they were pecked at. I had to leave them separated, but I allow them to free range together, and are now just starting to get along. However, they still sleep apart. Hoping they will start to sleep together and move into the large coop with the older hens. You just have to be patient.