mix in the brooder?

[camchick]

Hey guys, so I had some cots hatch last weekend and put them in my brooder and ive had some Chinese painted (button) quail hatch today. Do you think I could put the new chicks in with the week old cots? I have another brooder on the go but its full of 3wk old cots!

 

[BoutrosBoutrosGalusGalus]

So far my young cots have been real gentle except for the occasional one who thinks another's foot is a worm. I think the general rule for keeping young Cots together is 5 days age difference but I go about double that with no problems so far. I'm afraid the buttons would be smaller than a 5 day younger quail but you can give it a try. Week old cots won't kill them by trampling them

 

[mossypath]

.I have mixed a group 2 days apart but a week may be too much. Is your brooder large enough to put a ¼ “mesh between them? Set your light half way between and the birds can share the same space but be protected from the larger cots.
Just my opinion!

 

[jbobs]

I always kept my buttons in their own brooder. I was too afraid that they would get trampled or dogpiled on and suffocated or beaten up.

 

[camchick]

I normally keep mine separate. But, I too k a chance yesterday afternoon and put them in with the week olds... And after around 3 hrs of watching them decided they would be ok. One of the week olds seems to have taken up the postion of parent! When I woke up this morning the first thing I did was to check them. They seem to be fine!!!

I was ready with some wire whilst watching yesterday, so thanks for the advice. I think I need to start hatch-planning a bit better haha