Mixing baby chicks

[ayahlove97]

We have four 2 week old chicks and we were thinking about getting a few road island reds that are only a few days old. Can you mix them or is the age to far apart?

 

[fried green eggs]

You need to monitor them for the first day but you can add chicks up to 3 weeks difference in age without much problem. You have to make sure your brooder is large enough and has a warm area for young ones and that the older ones can move away from the heat if they want.

 

[azygous]

Go for it! But do it promptly as the window of acceptance closes the older the chicks get. Two weeks apart in age is not a problem, even though the new ones will be half the size of the two-week olds. As "fried" pointed out, there is a slight chance for some bullying, but just keep an eye on them and be ready to make a partition in the brooder if necessary.

 

[ayahlove97]

Ok thank you!