Introducing new chicks into 6 day-old flock???

[stretchc1]

Anybody have any experience adding chicks to a brooder?

I received 5 chicks on Wednesday (hatched Monday?). One was doa, and I lost one on Friday (very sad). I found a local woman on Craig'sList who ordered 25 chicks from McMurray's with a friend and the "friend" backed out, so she's offering the "friend's" half of the order (all female and vaccinated for Marek's). I told her I would take two or three. They are due to hatch tomorrow (Monday) and arrive Tues or Wed.

The woman on the help line at MyPetChicken said that as long as I add chicks that are no more than one week older or younger than my originals, I should be okay since the size difference won't be huge. But it seems like mine are about twice as big as they were a couple days ago.

I think I have a wide enough variety of temperatures available for the chicks. They roam all over the brooder from an area that's right around 90 to a corner that's closer to 75 or 80. The light is red and I think I can cover the pine shavings for the first day or two when the newbies arrive without irritating the veterans.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[bubbazmommy]

I have had positive experience with this. You just want to watch to see how they react and have a back up plan if needed.

I have put day old chicks on shavings with no issues, although I know the ruke of thumb is not to, if that helps.

 

[mylilchix]

I think they should get along ok. I've added day olds in with 2 weekers, and they've been fine. My only concern is if some are vaccinated and others aren't. I don't know all of the details, but I've heard that you shouldn't combine them. Could be wrong though.

Good luck,
Sonja

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I have been hatching every weekend for that last 2 months and have a brooder for fresh born, a brooder for 2 -3 weeks old, and a brooder for 4 - 6 weeksm then they move into a horse stall with other older chicks. Boys and girls get seperated, if I can tell.

Never had an issue. The first week, I keep them on paper towels. After that, they are on wood shavings.

 

[stretchc1]

Thanks for the encouragement, everybody!

All will have been vaccinated for Marek's, and I'm using medicated feed to ward off cocci.

Fingers crossed...