Is it safe to mix 2 day old chciks with 23 day old chicks?

[Mrs Chickens]

Hi Just hatch 2 chicken chicks out of 9 eggs all other ether died coming out or just died in shell (very sad). We though we would have more. My questions is if I was to start the whole process again would my new chicks be safe to put in with the chicks I have just hatch - ie there would be a 23/ 24 day differance? Or is it not possible or dangerous for the small chicks.

If anyone can also help I have one egg left in incubator at the moment it's 3 days over due do I give up or keep waiting

Thank you for any advise:/

 

[Opa]

I would advise that you never mix chicks with more the just a few days age difference. The result in doing so could be fatal to the younger ones. As a rule you should only mix birds of comparable size.

 

[Mrs Chickens]

Thank you Opa for that I will hold fire before putting more eggs in incubator - just a bit disapointed that all but two survived. My husbands built a very large hen house for all the new chicks - lets say it will be roomy.

Do you know how long I should leave the one egg left??

 

[mulia24]

have the chicken peck the shell of not? did you hear any sound? if no, just candling it, if there's something moving quickly left it inside incubator, if candling show no movement and/or you smell odor from the egg, throw it far away now. that's all.


don't put the younger chicken with older chicken, they could be killed by the older one.

 

[Opa]

I'd give that egg a couple of more days. I have known of eggs hatching 3 and 4 days after the others.
It seems that I always have a couple of pens with smaller birds that are waiting to be added to the flock. If you wanted to hatch more chicks I would. It wouldn't be that difficult to keep the 2 birds you have in a cage until your new hatchlings are about the same size (10-14 wks depending on breed).

 

[Mrs Chickens]

Ok I think its dead - no movement from candiler or sound - should I open the egg to check? What if it is alive?

Thanks for your help

The overdue egg was surpose to of hatch on Thursday?? 3 days over due

 

[mulia24]

because there are no sound on hearing and no movement on candling and today it have reached the 24th days, i suggest you to make a test, just make a little cracking, see is there something moving? if there's no movement you see or even "stink" egg that you found, of course throw it. that's i suggest you.

you are welcome, i always get helped by many member and i also will help with even lack of knowledge i have. by the way, if the eggs have over due for more than 3 days, then, if it hatched, that's "miracle".

 

[Mrs Chickens]

Perfectly formed dead chick looks like it got right to the end then just couldn't get out. I had another one that was similar this morning just could tell that it was dead from candiler just wasn't 100% sure with this one!! Ahh a little sad said would sell some chickens to friends and wanted to keep the rest with our lovely free range Mrs Chickens.

Colin our handsome cockral will have to get busy in 16wks time as I will do the whole thing again

Thanks to Opa & mulia24 for quick response I though I would wait for ages for respones You are stars

 

[mulia24]

ups, i'm sorry about the eggs, but you've doing the best you can.


you're welcome, we all ever feel how it's to be a "new hatched chicken"..

just ask if you get problem, and we can share what we know.