Newbie question: adding chicks?

[nhblond]

Hi,

Just joined and am looking for some help. We own a small hobby farm and today I am going to pick up 4 NH Red chicks that are two weeks old. Between my husband and I we can cover the basics (box, shavings, feeder, water, heat lamp), but I have a question that I am sure all of you will appreciate given the addictive nature of getting chickens (animals in general). I heard back from someone that also has chicks, and am thinking of picking up two from her giving us a total of 6 (need them like a whole in the head). If I pick up the 4 NH reds today and set them up, can I then pick up 2 either Barred Rock, SLW, or Auraucana chicks and put them in with the first four without any problems?
I'm sure I will have lots more questions to come! So excited about the chicks! Mostly getting them for pets, not necessarily the eggs.

 

[gmendoza]

first thing is to get rid of ANY shavings for the floor.Go to family dollar or dollar general.my wife bought this stuff that is for rv placement mats.this material wont let the chicks get splayed leggs and the chicks never confuse it for food like the shavings.So many trageties start out with dead chicks from the floor shavings,or pine,or straw.the chicks will think that is food and will die.I have lost some quail to this thing so Ido come w/experience. the mats are reuseable and washable,made from a rubber material.the chicks cant even peck pieces off of it nor eat it.We use it in our brooder and its so easily cleanable.

Here is a pic below of our chicks and the mat they use:

 

[MN Chicken]

I use pine shavings and the chicks never eat it. They may peck it, but they drop the pieces right away. I like the shavings because it holds heat, and the chicks seems to appreciate that.

 

[newlyweds]

I think they will be just fine if you add the younger chicks in with the 2 weekers. I've done this twice now, adding new chicks each week and they acclimated just fine, never acting any differently. No pecking or anything. Good luck to you, I keep wanting to add a few more chicks but we are limited on space, ugh.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I appreciate that you've had some negative experiences, but two week old chicks should not have a problem with splayed leg - and the number of people who use the shavings and have no problems is so very much larger than the number who do have problems - that i think it is a stretch to give this as resolute advice for all chicks.

I have kept my chicks on shavings from day one and had no problems.

I will say, also, that if someone DOES want an alternative to shavings, those mats look like a pretty good idea. They could also work well for transporting, etc., and for the bottom of nest boxes - as long as the material is strong enough that the hens can't scratch it to shreds.

 

[RAWR]

i used pine shavings for my first chicks and no one ate it...
and the 2 Golden Comet chicks i have now arnt eating it either
but if your really worried about it, just use paper towels
and you can add in as many chicks as you want, just as long as they're the same age

 

[alabamachick]

I havent had any problems with adding two 2 day old EE chicks in with my 2-3 week old Chicks. I got the first 6 when when they were about 1-2 weeks old, and then TSC got fresh order of new fuzzy butts, and I ended up with the two 2 day old EEs. When I first got them, they were picked on for about 2 mins while the others taught them who was boss, but after that, it was all over and they were all a big happy family!

I WAS having a problem with the bigger chicks running over the babies, but they learned real quick to stay out of the way during meal worm treat time.

** Also wanted to say, I use pine shavings and havent had ANY problems with it. The chicks will peck through it and dig in it, but they dont eat it. I think its better than a mat because it reinforeces the scratching and LOOKING for stuff... I hide meal worms in it to give them something to do for a while.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

The sooner you add them while they are young the better IMO. OTherwise they are pretty nasty when they get older. You will have to screen off part of the box for a while though so they get used to seeing each other (If they do get a little picky).

I have only used the paper towel up to two days old but after that they know what food is and will do just fine with pine shavings. Never had a problems with my chicks at all. And they ate a lot of it...or maybe they are just picking at it too and dropping it.

 

[gryeyes]

I've had no problems with adding chicks, all the way up to not-quite-four weeks difference in age.

 

[nhblond]

YAY! The four little girls are here! As far as the whole shavings debate that I started (sorry), I am not totally, totally new. When I was young my Dad let me get six as pets. Neighbors dog took care of that

And had a girlfriend that had a whole farm full of animals. Everyone I have ever know has used shavings with no issues. Anyway, let there be shavings!
I might have the heat lamp a little too low since they are not day old, but I will check on them in a little bit. Typical mother, always worrying if the kids are cold. Waiting to hear from the other woman about adding two more tomorrow....
Guess I should check out the profile section to list all my "kids" before eating lunch and then mucking horse stalls (late)
Thanks so much everyone for the great advice! I am sure already that I will be a regular on here, it truly is addictive!