New chicks and I'm kind of freaking out...

[LindseyC]

They are still doing great! It's so cute how they settle in when we turn the garage light off and they "go to bed". Then in the morning when I turn the light on and start talking to them, they come out. I was whistling and one of them kind of cocked her head sideways.. probably thinking "what kind of bird is that?" I have another question. We are supposed to be getting 2 Buff Orpington chicks this evening. Should I worry if they are smaller than the others? I just don't want them getting picked on. Do they usually intermingle pretty well when they're chicks?

 

[LindseyC]

Breakfast!

 

[Blooie]

The average temperature under Mama Heating Pad, on the floor of the cave, is around 82-86 degrees. Really! I measured it once in answer to a question. Yet my chicks had been thriving using it for days! The chicks warm up by having the heat right at the level of their backs, not by having their entire space heated. That takes us some getting used to! You're not likely to ever hit that golden "95 degrees" under but that's okay....it would be way too hot if it did. Most of us who use this don't even bother with charts and thermometers because that's not how this works.

I agree that they might have gotten too warm and not wanted to go under it. It may also well be exactly what my friend @lazy gardener experienced. But it sounds like they've got it figured out now, and that's great!

 

[mdavison]

I have another question. We are supposed to be getting 2 Buff Orpington chicks this evening. Should I worry if they are smaller than the others? I just don't want them getting picked on. Do they usually intermingle pretty well when they're chicks?

Well this isn't quite the same but.... we had 9 chicks and then yesterday added 4 ducklings. They're snoozing together I mean literally they cuddle together, get up, eat, drink, stretch. Cuddle back together. I'm guessing your chicks should do ok.
I don't think I've ever seen such cuteness.

 

[LindseyC]

I think instead of 6, I want 7. Ha! My husband is stopping by to check on our Orpingtons, but I think I want 1 more. 7 seems like so many.. but what’s 1 more, right? This could get dangerous. The ‘just one more’ syndrome.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are still doing great! It's so cute how they settle in when we turn the garage light off and they "go to bed". Then in the morning when I turn the light on and start talking to them, they come out. I was whistling and one of them kind of cocked her head sideways.. probably thinking "what kind of bird is that?" I have another question. We are supposed to be getting 2 Buff Orpington chicks this evening. Should I worry if they are smaller than the others? I just don't want them getting picked on. Do they usually intermingle pretty well when they're chicks?

Glad to hear they are doing well!

There's no exact answer to your question about adding the other chicks - either it goes well or not. Hopefully the ones you have will be thrilled to have new friends, but have a backup plan if you need to separate out the BO's.
Even very young chicks seem to establish a loose pecking order. If everything goes south, having a way where both "sets" can see each other for a couple of days will be very helpful.

Let us know how it goes.