introducing chicks

[ukchickengirl]

Hi - just supposing one of todays batch hatches (ones pipped!

) then can i just put it in the brooder with the week old chick or will they fight?!

H x

 

[robin416]

So you have a single lonely chick? Most of the time it works out fine to add new buddies that just hatched. I know I've done it more than once. But I raise Silkies and they seem to be more tolerant about a lot of things.

 

[thndrdancr]

You SHOULD be fine but watch them a bit first.

Well, just wanted to share about mine that hatched last month, it took me constantly watching for a whole day to make sure they didnt really hurt each other, and mine were only two days apart!
Part of the problem was that I had tho, was one was a normal sized barred rock that was very active, and a laid back very tiny bantam showgirl. I waited til the showgirl was about 3 days old, then it didnt go to well til about a week later, but the pecking only lasted the first two days.
I popped the little barred rock gently on the head every time she pecked for the first hour and she got the idea real fast. She was real good after that. But then, the silkie decided to get even, and was pecking after the big chick constantly, and she NEVER got the idea not to! I was a little harsher on the br cuz she was big enough to do damage at 5 days than the bantam silkie, who you can barely feel peck even now at a month.
If a chick is lonely, they will accept new chicks real easy, but my silly chick actually LIKED being by herself.
Good news tho now, they are buddies. They even slept separately for the first 10 days or so, the br did NOT like the other one at ALL for a long time.
Good luck! and have fun with it.
Guess what I am saying is I wouldnt just throw them in and not watch them, but if you have 2 to 3 hours to make sure they are ok together, thats usually the hardest few hours when they are that little.
Jill

 

[ukchickengirl]

Its got a mirror but cant see alot in it cos it keeps pooping on it!!

I will def be watching them, its tough trying to deal with my 17 week old and watch the chicks! lol

Thanks for advice - next lot should

be hatching next sat so will have to go through this all again!

H x

 

[silkiechicken]

With chicks with like 3 weeks of each other... I've never had a problem. I would just drop the new ones, not literally, into the brooder and after some starring at each other, they were just fine. Good luck with yours!