Introducing 4 week old chicks to 4 week old chicks....

[LogCabinChicks]

So I started my chicken adventure the third week in April and bought 4 Leghorns and 2 Plymoth Rocks. They are now outside enjoying the sunshine and a nice 40 x 10 run. But on Memorial Weekend, I decided I needed more....just a few I told my husband. So, I picked up 6 Golden Wyandotts. Well a co-worker is military and they are on orders for Alaska. She bought some chicks from a farmer, all mixed up breeds, 7 of them. Then she found out that she could not drive the chicks through Canada (to get to Alaska) and asked me if I would "adopt" her chickens. Of course I did. So, now I have 13 chicks, all the same age (3 - 4 weeks) and 6 chicks outside that are much bigger. I have read the posts on introducing your chicks, so I know the 13 must stay separted until they are almost full grown. Check. But what about these 13? Do I have to do the slow introduction with them to each as well?? My 6 to her 7 I mean....how much of a pecking order is there at this age? Any advice would be great, because I have 15 meat chickens as well, so cleaning 4 pens a week is well...tiring...as well as feeding and cleaning 4 waterers, 4 food dishes...etc. lol, not that I don't LOVE it I do...just would like to cut down on the chicken chores!

 

[LRH97]

At this age, there is not a lot that they can do to each other if they are the same size. So, I would say just keep an eye out for any major issues, but I think you should be fine with letting them be in the same pen.

 

[aekin]

Hi! and first off,

If they are all mostly the same size I would just put them all in together. They are still young and should adjust well. The only thing you have to do is keep an eye out for any extreme violence in the flock. If blood is drawn then you have a problem and need to isolate the injured bird. I believe you should be fine though.