Introducing batches of chicks

[thornoelle]

Hi Everyone! This is my first post and my first time having chickens. I have a question about my chicks. I have 2 batches of chicks - 6 silkies who will be 4 weeks old on Sunday and 4 assorted bantam chicks that will be 1 week old on Sunday. They are all from My Pet Chicken and are doing great. I am wondering at what age I can put them all together. Will it be possible to put the younger ones in with the older ones when the young ones are ready to go outside or do I need to wait longer? I am concerned that none of them get injured in the introductions.

Please let me know what you all think.

Thanks:/

 

[fldiver97]

from WI. I would introduce them by sight first.....when the younger ones are ready to go in the coop I would put up a 'fence' or barrier so they can see the others but be safe from pecking. After a few days I think you can let them out together, just make sure nobody gets bullied/pecked too much. If they are to rough or draw blood you should seperate and then reintroduce later when healed. I think there is a link in the FAQ's about it

 

[cmom]

Here is good information on integrating flocks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

 

[SunnyDawn]

Wow, I just read the info on the link from cmom above. Great info!!! One more note; when I added younger chicks to a brooder with older chicks and got some bullying, I separated out the bully (and reintroduced her later) but found the other pullets kept pecking at the spot of blood on the head of the younger chick that had been pecked at by the bully. I pulled the bloody chick out as well and quickly ran to the store to get a red light bulb. Once I replaced one of the brooder bulbs with the red bulb I put the injured chick back in. Since the other pullets couldn't see the red spot anymore (everything is red with the new bulb) they left her alone and she healed up fine! But seriously read the info on that link above. Great stuff!
Good luck!

 

[thornoelle]

Thank you for the info. There was a lot of great info there but I am still not too sure at what age it would be safe to integrate them. They are 3 weeks apart in age. I just put the older girls out in their coop tonight as it is still staying so warm at night and they haven't had heat for a week inside. The little ones are of course still in their brooder.