Introducing baby chick to other baby chicks

[Naughty]

well so far all of mine seem to be getting along but found one of my lil ones had died tody. the other 3 babies seem to be getting along with the big ones - so no clue what happened

 

[ninabriley]

I had to do the very same thing about a week ago.
I had purchased two chicks

(Americaunas)at the feed store and put them in a large rubbermaid box which is next to the cage where I have 9 other chicks. When I got up the next morning, the two "smaller" chicks which appeared to be getting wing and tail feathers, were perched on the ledge of the box (some 18" high). Needless to say, there was evidence they had been investigating the utility room. I had no choice but to put them in with the other chicks. All went well despite my concerns.

 

[renaenae]

Thanks for all your help. I brought the chick home last week and just put him in the box with the other chicks. At first I was pretty nervous--he was quite a bit bigger than the others--not quite doubled the size. The other chicks ran to one corner of the box and he sat in there a chirped for about 10 minutes. finally, i had sneezed and scared him so he ran to the other chicks. I checked on them about every 15 minutes and they seemed a little nervous, but fine. By morning, they were all doing very well and now he's just one of them. I'm not sure what it is though. My dad hatched some Black Australorps and I had Barred Rocks in the same incubator. He's black and yellow fuzz but his wing feathers that are coming in are all black and all white. No barred pattern and I didn't think Black Australorps would have white feathers. Will keep watching, but not to sure right now. It also has a yellow face with black speckles all over it, including the beak. any ideas? I know it has to be one or the other, but I don't know why it would look so different.

 

[hallerlake]

I think introducing one big bird works better than introducing one little bird. I had one chick hatch from a batch of eggs. A month later I got five more of the same kind. There was never any problem. I have some more baby chicks in a cage next to the crate with the first batch of chicks. I'm hoping they'll all know each other well enough so I can combine them at some point. They all hang out together on the side where the two cages meet.