Mixing chicks

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Birdacious

Birdacious

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May 11, 2013
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Hello everyone! I am a proud new owner of two adorable Rhode Island Reds. I am expecting two Plymouth Rocks in a few days. My reds will be two weeks old. Does anyone know if it's ok to introduce the new chicks to the older chicks? I don't want either to be too stressed, but they will be together eventually and I would like to keep them in one area. Thanks for any input!
 
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the new ones will be quite a bit smaller and less steady on legs than the older chicks. You could try having them together under close supervision at first, to be sure the bigger ones are bullying them or tramping them. Sometimes they won't allow young birds to get to feed or water - so watch for that as well. At night they should behave because chickens won't move around in the dark.


When all are fully feathered out, they may go outside& to the coop.
 
I have read that you can safely mix chicks of different ages while they are all under a month old. I've never tried it, though. Good luck!
 
Welcome to BYC!!!
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Glad to have you aboard!!
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Thanks everyone! Today's the day we get our new babies. So exciting!
 
The sooner you put them together the better...the older they get, the more they'll be a pecking order. I recently mixed in 2 weeks old with 7 weeks old. I must admit the first 2 days the 2 weeks old stayed in their corner because the older ones would chase them (I have large fowl chicks that didn't go after the young ones, but I also have bantams that are high-strung little buggers that are up to no good most of the time), but a couple of days later everyone's happy.
As long as you have a little bunch they'll be good - one or two little chick alone would struggle against a big gang.
 

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