Putting 4 to 6 week old chickens with 1 week old chicks???

[funonahonda]

Hello, I have 4- 4 to 6 week old red sexlinks would it be ok to put them with 2- 1 week old new hampshires?? Thanks

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I never have luck mixing chicks with that big an age difference, maybe someone else can chime in ....Mine always want to start the pecking and bullying...

 

[Cara]

I agree, the week-olds are just too vulnerable. With older birds they can defend themselves or avoid each other, but the older chicks could well kill your younger ones in such a confined area.

 

[legacyln]

I tried putting 6 wk old chicks with 8 week old chicks and it didn't work-- had to take them out immediately. So, I kept them seperately cooped and then let them free range together for several weeks. The larger birds would chase the others a little, but they had plenty of room to fly/run away and the bullies would always give up quick. Then, after 2 weeks of that, I sold off all my extra cockerels, which was about half of the bigger chicks, and then I started cooping them together at night. Tkat has worked fine, but the smaller chicks are definately at the BOTTOM of the pecking order. It is amazing that at almost 3 months old there is still such a big size difference between them. Good luck-- I know first hand what a pain it is keeping them seperate!