Mixing flocks

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smpisias

smpisias

In the Brooder
6 Years
Feb 11, 2013
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Hello, I'm new to the site, and have a couple of questions. Can I mix my 4 chickens with a neighbor's 5 chickens so that she can babysit while I'm out of town for a week or so?
Also, I have noticed some black little bits in my nesting boxes. Is it rodent feces? I have tried to put small gauge wire over all the openings. Thanks for any advice!
 
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Combining the two flocks would result in fighting as they try to establish a new pecking order. It would be far better to have her care for them at your place. The little black bits may very well be mouse feces. Try setting some traps in spots sheltered from your flock.
 
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Greetings from Kansas and
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! Pleased you joined us! I X2 the advice of sourland. I would also worry about cross contamination - wouldn't want either flock to get sick. Good luck to you!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan
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I also agree with Sourland. If the "black bits" look like little torpedos and are all pretty much the same size, it is probably mouse poop. Mice can squeeze through cracks less than 1" wide.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC
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Glad you joined us!
 
Im new to this site aswell and i have a group of 6 bantam mixes that are in the same cage and then i incubated 12 eggs and only one hatched(rir). The bantams are 3 weeks old and the RIR is 2 weeks and is alone. Can i put them all in the same cage or will the group of bantams hurts the younger one?
 
bantams321 said:
Im new to this site aswell and i have a group of 6 bantam mixes that are in the same cage and then i incubated 12 eggs and only one hatched(rir). The bantams are 3 weeks old and the RIR is 2 weeks and is alone. Can i put them all in the same cage or will the group of bantams hurts the younger one?
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I have put chicks together as much as three weeks' difference in age. There will be some pecking order issues, as that process starts at very early ages. As long as no blood is drawn, let them work it out. Watch to make sure the RIR doesnt get cornered or kept drom food and water, though. Before too long, that RIR will be bigger than the bantam mixes, I bet, and they'll all be one group.
 

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