mixing different ages?

[halfwaynowhere]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one already, but figured it didn't hurt to ask.

I have three chicks in the brooder now. They arrived at the feed store on Wednesday morning, probably hatched Monday.
I've finally got my mom sold on a silkie or two, but I'm having a hard time finding chicks in the area. I called one feed store that carries them, and said they'd be getting them in this coming Friday.

With silkies being littler birds than my standard breed chicks, will that much of an age difference be too much for me to put them in the brooder together? If so, at what point could I put them together?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I find that chicks that are day olds are ok with other chicks up to two weeks older than them- bantams or large fowl mixed is ok.

At three weeks older, they tower over the younger ones and are faster than them....but if you wait a bit they can be integrated in just a few short weeks.

 

[bcmama]

I got 4 large fowl one week before I picked up my two silkies and they all get along very well. My silkies have fit right in and even looked to the larger (EE and BR) as mother hens trying to get under them and snuggling up to them at night. It's been a very sweet experience to witness.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I agree. I got 2 6 week old BO's first, and two days later a month old JG and 2 2 week old chicks. I let them mingle for a couple of days in neutral territory (i.e. kitchen floor) and now they are all happily in one big cage. The chicks are particularly happy because they now have access to nice golden down. The big girls were actually scared of the new ones at first. The young Jersey Giant rules the roost, and sort of mothers the chicks. Interesting.