Putting baby chicks with older chicks?

[JenS9]

They're about 3.5 weeks apart. I'm worried that if I don't get them together before they're all old enough to go into the coop at 5-6 weeks, I'm going to have a lot more problems trying to get them all together.

 

[dowgirl71]

I just put this little girl in with my 2 older BOs and they are about 3 wks older than her. There is a HUGE size difference and they are almost completely feathered out, but they are so good with her. She has been run over a couple times, but does her best to keep up. I do think that she wishes they'd sleep more. I was told that she is 2 wks old, but I don't think so. I'm thinking MAYBE, almost a week. Any other guesses? I've never had RIRs before, so don't know how quickly they mature, but with my other chickens, they looked like this when I first got them and they were only days old.

 

[JenS9]

My silkies are about a week old and have some wing feathers coming in. These are my first chicks, though, so I don't know about other breeds.

 

[JenS9]

If they're all snoodled up sleeping together are they okay to leave alone? They've been together most of all day (within ear shot, and frequent checks) without any problems.

 

[dowgirl71]

If they're all snoodled up sleeping together are they okay to leave alone? They've been together most of all day (within ear shot, and frequent checks) without any problems.

I'm just reading your post, so you've probably already got it figured out. I would've felt pretty comfortable leaving them together at that point. You can probably tell me how it went, by now-hope it went well!

 

[JenS9]

I left them together last night, no problems! They still hang in their little respective flocks, but eat together, have slept together, etc, so I'm sure they're good.

 

[dowgirl71]

I left them together last night, no problems! They still hang in their little respective flocks, but eat together, have slept together, etc, so I'm sure they're good.

That's good to hear! It's funny with my girls-the older ones are starting to get a little protective of their "little sister." When I return her back to the tote, they have to check her all over and make sure she's OK. It's cute!

 

[MadamContrary]

I just put this little girl in with my 2 older BOs and they are about 3 wks older than her. There is a HUGE size difference and they are almost completely feathered out, but they are so good with her. She has been run over a couple times, but does her best to keep up. I do think that she wishes they'd sleep more. I was told that she is 2 wks old, but I don't think so. I'm thinking MAYBE, almost a week. Any other guesses? I've never had RIRs before, so don't know how quickly they mature, but with my other chickens, they looked like this when I first got them and they were only days old.

You are correct a week or less, I have a brooder full of RIR and they are exactly 1 week old and they are already getting feathering on the shoulders and about half have wing feathers almost reaching tail stubs. They are a fast feathering breed.

 

[dowgirl71]

You are correct a week or less, I have a brooder full of RIR and they are exactly 1 week old and they are already getting feathering on the shoulders and about half have wing feathers almost reaching tail stubs. They are a fast feathering breed.

Thanks for telling me. I still haven't heard back from the man I got this chick from. So, I'm figuring it was probably born last Friday and am going to use that as my day to figure it's age.