Introducing different age chicks... What age?

[biteme2134]

Quick question... I'm staggering hatches for the first time - I'm hoping to keep them close enough together to put them in the same brooder (got a second incubator) so how many days apart is too many to put them together? I'm thinking less than a week... Keep them apart until dry and fluffy and eating.. Anyone know how many days is too much?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve had siblings kill each other, chicks that hatched under a broody and were being raised by the broody. Several people on this forum say they have no trouble merging chicks a few weeks apart and raising them together. It is going to be a case by case basis. Some people even say chicks a few weeks older actually mother the younger and keep them warm. You don’t get any guarantees with living animals. Anything can happen.

My suggestion is to try it and see what happens. Have a plan B if you need it.

 

[biteme2134]

I’ve had siblings kill each other, chicks that hatched under a broody and were being raised by the broody. Several people on this forum say they have no trouble merging chicks a few weeks apart and raising them together. It is going to be a case by case basis. Some people even say chicks a few weeks older actually mother the younger and keep them warm. You don’t get any guarantees with living animals. Anything can happen.

My suggestion is to try it and see what happens. Have a plan B if you need it.

Good point - My goal was to be within about 3 or 4 days apart in hatching - but that could turn into a week or so when you get the late one hatching