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.
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.
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
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.
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...
