Introducing chicks of similar age

[Stephanie Ginder]

Hello! I'm Stephanie, and I need some advice on how to introduce my four 2 month old chicks to my one 3 month old chick. I've read articles that say to keep them visible to one another, but not actively integrated for a few weeks. But then I've also read some articles that say to integrate them, but leave ample space and extra feeders and water-ers in the run. Needless to say, I am very confused. Please help!!!!

 

[centrarchid]

Without knowing your available space I suggest you simply the one 3 month old juvenile on top of the four 2 month old juveniles. I stop using the term chick once they are about 5 weeks old. What I expect to see is the smaller birds will be more confident on their own turf and will not be challenged by additional stressor of being moved. The older chicks will have too many targets to do real harm. Make so you can watch them for an hour or so after introduction. You will see some discord on roost although it will lessen each day. They should acting as a single social unit within a few days. The more elaborate approaches I reserve for when younger birds are introduced to groups of adults.