I'm getting chicks from the local feed store and they get two or three breeds, in pullets, a week. I was wondering; if I get 2 chicks this week (RIR and Americauna), and 3 chicks next week (Silver Wyandotte, Barred Rock, Gold Sex link), will the two older ones pick on the next three? Can I even go for a third and get a two Polish chicks on week three? I'd like one of each breed for fun and variety, but it would be rather hard for me to have separate brooders for different ages. Will it work? Or will I have to settle for a week that has a bunch of neat breeds and double up? -MTchick
I have some mixed right now with no problems. A difference of about 2 weeks. I watched them in the beginning to make sure that they played nicely.
Bumping this to ask: if you have different ages together, you'd set the brooder at the temp for the youngest chicks, right? I'm hatching next month and also getting an order of chicks. They will be exactly one week apart. Should I keep the brooder set at 95? Or do you think I should just use separate brooders for a week or two?
95 degrees is fine as long as you have room for the older ones to get away from the heat source if they need to. I always let the chicks tell me what temp. they like. If they are all hundled together, they are cold. If they are away from the heat, they are too warm. My two chicks I have right now only liked the 95 degrees for about 3 days, then they moved away from the light. So I had to adjust. Just keep a eye on their behavior and you will be just fine.
