Raising chicks of different ages together

[wildknives]

I have found that no matter what size, if you put youngsters together, they will get along. And stay together as they get older.

 

[ejcrist]

I've read and been told that you can put similar sized chicks together if they're all born within a month apart. I picked up an order of 20 chicks from a breeder the other week and five were 5 weeks old while the smaller chicks were only a day old. They're all out in one of my brooders right now and they've been getting along just fine. I was a little worried initially since the older chicks were about 3x the size of the day-olds, but like the others have said, as long as there's enough room I don't think it matters much. I'm breeding chicks now and plan to put them all together - the oldest will be 6 weeks when the last chicks are born. I'll keep an eye on them at first but I don't anticipate any issues.

 

[Veganx3Love]

Hello I currently have 10 chicks together ranging from about 4 days old to a month old they all get along great. In fact the older ones look out for the littles...last night we had a brief power outage and the little ones snuggled up under the big girls wings for warmth. Luckily it only went out for ten minutes, holy heart attack.

 

[jonesfamily6]

I have mixed age/size chics together doing perfectly fine. 2 weeks to 7ish weeks. I have 2 lights since there are several. And I have food in a couple places. I watch them a lot. The Cochin (middle sized) is just starting to peck the biggest (an araucana). She just walks away. The littles snuggle right in to the bigger chicks and they all sleep together mixed. I have room to separate but haven't needed to. As long as they can get warm have food and water without one running them off and aren't hurting you will be fine! Just watch and see what happens with your mix

 

[Jetblack2004]

Lol, this thread Is so old!

 

[harveyhorses]

But very timely for me! I have 4 that were very overcrowded and two that are just a week old. I have had all since last Saturday, and will be putting them together this weekend, I have had them together a couple of times, and they got along fine, but I wanted the big ones to be calmer around me. this is very reassuring,
Tomorrow they get to see the big wide world! and their grown up sisters. There is an old grape arbor (the former owners built it 5 ft tall, WHO DOES THAT??? I have actually had to pick splinters out of my scalp) in the middle of my run and I am running hardware cloth around the outside of it. it is about 8 x 10, so they will have lots of room.
I love chickens.