Mixing Ages

[MommaBison]

I need some guidance. I know it's standard advice to only mix chicks of a 2 week age gap.....that said I have one large sized brooder, in it are 17 - 2 and 4 week old chicks. I now have 12 hatchlings and I'd love if I could mix them and not divide up the space. I've raised up to 57 chicks at a time in this brooder, which is inside my house. Splitting it up isn't ideal, but we could figure it out if 100% necessary. It mainly will cause crowding with the fees and water due to needing separate heat lamps.

 

[MommaBison]

My brooder plates have been damaged and it's not in the budget to get new ones at this time.