Raising chicks a month apart in age?

[nsbchickens]

I’ve brooded chickens before, but not more than a week apart. I’m picking up 12 chicks on Saturday that were hatched 1/30. Next week I’m picking up 3 more newly hatched chicks, so 3 1/2 week difference. I’m already planning on brooding the younger ones separately, but next to the older ones, but my question is for how long?

I will make sure there are two feeders and two waterers to hopefully reduce any territorial issues, but I’m wondering how long they have to be apart. Can I slowly integrate them over the course of a couple weeks and see how it goes?

 

[kattabelly]

I would let the younger chicks get settled for a few days, make sure they're all healthy and managing to get around well. Then move them (if they haven't been there but separated from the start) to an area within the older chicks' space and provide a big enough gap between the two areas that the smaller chicks can come and go, but the bigger chicks can't access their safe area. You might need to post them through the gap a couple of times to make sure they know where it is. Provide food and water in both areas at first and watch for behaviours like chasing relentlessly or hard, repeated pecking (some pecking will be normal and they'll probably scream like it's the end of the world, but a casual "get out of my space" peck that's nowhere near hard enough to draw blood is normal and fine).

Indoors, I use a cage with the bottom raised up just enough for the littles to scoot underneath.

 

[kattabelly]

It's definitely easier with more younger chicks and fewer older chicks.

 

[Yardmom]

Young chicks learn very quickly who will peck and who will play nice. They also learn escape routes like under the fence the bigs can't go under very fast. If the littles have a place that the bigs can't go they can be integrated when only a few days old.
The other approach would be to integrate when the littles are old enough to get off heat. I do find the younger the chicks are the easier the integration.

 

[debid]

I did varied ages, three days to 3 weeks before without issue. BUT, they were all added to a new home at once, there wasn't already an order forming. I will say that the little one got stepped on a good bit as the bigger ones were farther along in their physical development and would run around all crazy in spite of the speed bump. It wasn't harmful to her as they were just knocking her over and they readily accepted her cuddling up for warmth. She got scrappy and fast in a hurry. It's pretty remarkable what they are capable of.