introducing chicks of different ages

[toofoul]

Hi all,

I'm putting my first little flock of 4-5 birds together. I am getting some Wyandotte bantams and standard Australorps but I have to purchase at different ages in order to ensure that they are sexed and that I will have a much less chance of getting roosters. roosters are a big no no here in suburbia.
The Australorps are coming from interstate as babies and are sexed. My Wyandotte source can only offer me sexed chicks at 6 weeks old. With our mild weather, the 6 week olds can go straight in the coop apparently. In the meantime, I will have a bunch of Australorp babies in a brooder ready for rehousing after another 6 weeks. Essentially, what will happen is that the Wyandottes will already be 12 week olds when I introduce the 6 week or so Australorp chicks into the pen. do you think this will be a problem or should I try and buy chix at same ages, be they 6 weeks or day olds?
I hope this isnt too confusing

All the best my chicken friends
Adrian

 

[Camelot Farms]

Its always best to buy at the same time but it seldom works out that way.

I would gauge my decision when you are ready to combine them by the size of the chicks. If there isnt a huge difference in the size, it isnt so bad. Puttting much smaller chicks in with much larger ones can be bad. I made the mistake and ended up with trampled chicks. Not pretty.

Another factor is space. If there is lots of space there is less chance of trampling.

Hope this helps.

 

[toofoul]

Hi Chickenista,
thanks for the advice. My guess is that there will be a 6 week gap between the two. As the wyandottes will be bantams maybe it wont be too bad to put regular sized Australorp chicks in with them once they reach 6 weeks? size difference might actually be relatively the same perhaps. I would definitely not put day olds in with 6 week old ones. Only one way to find out I guess.
Cheers for the advice
Adrian