Separating a varied flock

[BackAcre]

Hello again, I am back looking for more advice! Since joining this forum I have actually just kept a tab up on my phone at all times - that is how helpful I find It!
My situation is this: I am raising my first batch of chicks, and if that wasn't challenging enough, they are varied ages. I didn't set out to get various ages, I had intended to get a buff orphington about a week old, and another that was a few days old (not such a huge stretch) and at the same time get an Americana of the same age from another place about a week old to raise with them - when I picked up the chicks I ended up with an Americana that looked to be about 4 weeks old, a buff orphington that looked roughly a week old, and the few days old chick still had an egg tooth (which was meant to go to a friend but it didn't work out)! So I have these three in my bathtub brooder, ages -1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. They all get along well, and seem bonded. In fact, that is the main question - the 4 week old should probably be getting outside a little bit now in a dog kennel, but they don't like to be separated, and the littlest one is far too little to be going out yet. Am I stunting the 4 week old's socializing by keeping it in with the other two? Or should I put all three out for brief times in a dog kennel? Just seems like it will be really hard to transition them from the bathtub to the coop if I keep them together til the littlest one is old enough, but I don't think the 4 weeker would be as comfortable meeting the big hens by itself when it is used to the little trio in the bathtub. I did not originally plan to keep the littlest buff orphington, but the three seem so bonded I haven't actively looked for another home for it. Maybe that would simplify things for me? Any suggestions?

 

[Dmontgomery]

I’ve never had chicks with that much of an age gap in a brooder together. I’ve had then separated by 2 weeks but not 3 weeks. Additionally there were several of each age group. But my opinion is put them all out in the kennel for an hour or so each day. The ideal setup would be an isolated “look but no touch” pen inside the coop. If you have the room and the resources, build a small covered area surrounded with wire so the adults can see the chicks at all times but not get to them. Even a laundry basket turned upside down would work for at least temporary visits to the coop.

 

[BackAcre]

I like your advice, and you are bang on what I was planning on for introducing the young 'uns to the old hens. I also agree with your idea of moving them all together. I think I will wait for the littlest one to catch up before I start putting them out for a bit. The oldest is still content in the tub, not bored and picking or trying to get out. Thanks for the idea. Once again, helped by the forum!

 

[Sneebsey]

Depending on your temperatures at the moment, you may be able to put them out fairly soon regardless of the little's age. At two weeks old, they can go with 30C, which we'll be seeing here in the UK next week. I usually have everyone off heat and outside by four weeks old, and that's in our damp climate.

As the three are bonded together I would hesitate to separate them, particularly as when the time comes for them to join the main flock, having a couple of pals to draw fire from the older birds will ease the pressure on the chicks.