Mixing ages in brooder

[Yard full o' rocks]

Well....I've finally done it! I have messed up and am in a jam for brooder space. I have 5 RIRs, 6 BRs and 4 EEs due Sunday. I have 6 BO chicks (1 1/2 weeks old in brooder)....is it ok to mix new babies with the week and a half old chicks without too much trouble? If so, guess I'll be building another brooder this weekend. Any suggestions/experience? THANKS....and happy Friday!!!

 

[Mahlzeit]

I have done it before without any trouble. If I am mixing different ages I like to leave the chicks in the incubator until they are dried and becoming a little more active before putting them with the older chicks.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Quote:
thanks very much......

 

[Gonzo]

I would not do it. I would be afraid of the new babies being trampled. If you have a large storage container, that will work great. Just wipe it out with bleach & water mixture, make you a new lid with fenceing mtl. and you'll be set. We have some 4 week olds & some 1 week olds. we have them seperated in seperate bins, with their own lamps & stuff. We occasionally let them play together in their outside play yard. this way they can get aquainted. Good Luck! Hope this hepls!

 

[cafarmgirl]

When I got chicks this past spring they arrrived at different times due to my inability to not bring home a few whenever I was at the feed store or TSC.

So, I did mix in day olds with chicks that were a week or so old. I did watch them carefully at first but we never had any problem, they blended right in. If there was a bigger age gap I might say no but I think within a week or so of each other they should be fine.

 

[Masonic Chicken]

In the batch that just cam eout of my brooder I had 10 chicks from TSC and 2 weeks later I got another 5, different age, maybe 2 weeks apart, No issues when I did it.

 

[chickenboo707]

I am new to raising chicks and will appreciate any helpful advice. So here's my problem:

I am waiting for 2 BO chicks from the feed store. They won't get there for another 3 weeks. I currently have three chicks and they will be about 5 weeks old when I bring home the new chicks. Is that too large of an age gap? I hope not because I really want them. Is there a certain way to introduce them to the older chicks? Any suggestions?

p.s.
I am learning so much from this website. Thank you.

 

[Masonic Chicken]

I would say that is way to much of a gap, I would think they wuld either tramble or peck them to death, Just from my limited knowledge.

Depending on you brooder, maybe divide the brooder to keep them apart?

 

[cmom]

I agree with the previous post. I think the age gap is to great and the older chicks will likely hurt or could kill the younger ones. At the age they will be, they will be working on establishing their pecking order.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Right now I have some hours old chick in a brooder with 2 three week old chicks. Its so cute to see the three week olds "taking care of" the little ones. The babies all tried to get under one of the chicks. Her wings were way out to the sides trying to cover them all!!!

If my camera battery wasn't dead, I would have taken a picture of it. I'm hoping the three week old is a hen. She'll make a good mama!!

Laurie