I'm raising up 50 Cornish Xs and 9 RIR and 5 BRs. I started them out together in a oblong water tank. after 1 week I moved the Cornish to a 4x8 plywood brooder due to the pooping capacity of the lil monsters and left the RIR and BR in the trough brooder. The Cornish lived in the 4x8 brooder til week 3 then we turned them loose into the 12x16 coop. Week three we placed the RIR and BRs into the 4x8 brooder to give them more room. We also cut a 12"x20" hole into the brooder sidewall and placed hardware screen over the opening so that the chicks could get to know each other. At 5 weeks I removed the screen and let the gang mix it up. So far not one single problem. They're playing "nice" with one another even tho the meaties are 2-3 times bigger.
So......... The trick.
When I cut the opening into the brooder I left a 6 inch "stem wall" in the opening of the plywood. The RIR and the BRs jump back and forth in and out of thier brooder at will. Their feeder and water have been left in the brooder 24/7 while the meaties are on a 12/12 feeding regime. The meaties don't seem to be able to make it over the "stem wall" and access the RIR and BRs feeder.
Did I just stumble onto something new?
So......... The trick.
When I cut the opening into the brooder I left a 6 inch "stem wall" in the opening of the plywood. The RIR and the BRs jump back and forth in and out of thier brooder at will. Their feeder and water have been left in the brooder 24/7 while the meaties are on a 12/12 feeding regime. The meaties don't seem to be able to make it over the "stem wall" and access the RIR and BRs feeder.
Did I just stumble onto something new?
