Mixing groups

[Iluveggers]

I have 2 new groups of chicks, one hatched 6/10 at a local breeder, and a group I hatched 6/18. I want to mix both groups, because I have 2 more orders arriving by mail hopefully Thurs. Do you think the new babies I hatched can move into the big brooder with the week+ olds so I can keep an eye on the two mail order groups when they arrive?

After a few days once I know all shipped are thriving, do you think it would be ok to put them in their future flock groupings? (They are for 3 people, but the chicks we wanted weren’t all at one place so we combined a few orders to split.) I want to do it as soon as possible but don’t want to stick a weak chick I want to watch into a brooder immediately with a 2 week old chick.

 

[Poodlemum]

I think it would all work perfectly, especially since they’re all standard if I remember correctly. We’ve never had issues mixing ages until the bitty ones

 

[Iluveggers]

Thanks! It’s not unreasonable to keep the shipped newbies separate for 48 hours to keep an eye on them, is it?

 

[Poodlemum]

No, that’s likely a good idea so you can keep a closer eye on any that need a little extra boost

 

[3KillerBs]

I'd keep the newcomers separate until I was sure they were eating, drinking, and growing properly.