mixing breeds and age.

[All4JnG]

I'm getting 4 baby silkies on Saturday they will be unsexed and only a few days old. Would they be ok with buff orpington's that are a week and a half?

 

[TK421]

You might have some difficulties. I ordered some chicks last fall, and since a few died in shipping, I got their replacements a week later. The size difference was surprising! It was enough for the little ones to get stepped on and pushed away from food. After 2 pecks, I separated them, and I kept them in side-by-side brooders until it was time to go outside. At 3-4 weeks old, they werent as different in size. plus, in that new environment, there was no dominance and plenty of room. From then on, I could keep them together, and they mixed very well.

 

[All4JnG]

I ended up getting the silkies 12 hours after they hatched and I've been keeping them in separate brooders next to each other. Then when I cleaned theme today I let them run around together. The bigger/older chicks are buff orpington's. They are already playing the mama hen role. I'm not going to put them together (unsupervised) for a while. But I think it will be just fine when I do.
This is Lily.

and lucy who is still curious.

I think Lily will be the top in the pecking order. They have been challenging each other and it seems Lily wins most of the time. She always seems to be watching out for the others especially Lucy.

 

[Joshua G]

They should be fine, but keep an eye on them just in case.
I have mixed different ages before and didn't have any problems, but then every flock is different.

 

[All4JnG]

We will see. Hoping it goes smoothly.

 

[Joshua G]

Good luck.

 

[All4JnG]

Thank you so much!!!