Newbie Question on adding chicks into a brooder a week apart

[Starboardlabs]

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to chickens. I recently realized that chicken math is a thing!! I had finally decided to pull the trigger so to speak and order my chicks (from MPC). With all of the breed choices, I decided on the ones that were right for me unfortunately a few of the ones I had my heart set on, were not available in the same ship date. The dates were consecutive weeks in May, so half would come one week, the others the following week. Is this a mistake? I have 10 chicks ordered. Also, as they grow, how big of a brooding 'area/pen' would I need for 10 chickens? I look forward to your input !!

 

[Jetblack2004]

I've had to put chicks of different ages together before and they've been perfectly fine. No problems at all. It's when they get older that it starts to matter. I'm not sure how much space they need. I move my chicks to different places often and they seem perfectly happy. As long as the chicks/chickens don't look too squashed and have enough space to walk around they should be ok.

 

[Starboardlabs]

So if I made a second brooder area, like those puppy play pens, and pet them next to each other that they can see each other as opposed to isolating 2 groups and then reintroducing them when they go out to the big coop - would that work??

 

[reginacarbone]

I think that would be fine. I added several young chickens to my existing flock last year. I had then in a smaller run next to my large run and would let them all free range together and eventually they intergrated happily

 

[Starboardlabs]

Thanks!!

 

[MesasFlock]

Hi StarboardLabs,
I'm brand new to this too but started off with two 3-week olds together with two 1-week olds and then a week later we got an additional two who were only a few days. They all get along great and the oldest one protects all the smaller ones, really sweet. The temperature thing did get a big tricky but they are in a larger area now where there is more room to move away from the heat but they all snuggle together at night.
looking forward to seeing your pictures!!