Size and a two week age difference

[Ometra]

Due to availability, on April 12th we have 9 chicks coming ( 3 each of Black Ameraucanas, Black Laced Gold Wyandottes, and Cuckoo Marans. Then on April 27th, we‘re getting 3 Buff Brahmas.
I’ve been reading here about the risk of new chicks being bullied by chicks two week older.
But because the new Brahmas are a larger breed in general, would their larger size discourage bullying by older smaller breeds?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Due to availability, on April 12th we have 9 chicks coming ( 3 each of Black Ameraucanas, Black Laced Gold Wyandottes, and Cuckoo Marans. Then on April 27th, we‘re getting 3 Buff Brahmas.
I’ve been reading here about the risk of new chicks being bullied by chicks two week older.
But because the new Brahmas are a larger breed in general, would their larger size discourage bullying by older smaller breeds?

Brahma aren't any larger as Christmas cks. They just keep growing after most breeds stop.

 

[Ometra]

Brahma aren't any larger as Christmas cks. They just keep growing after most breeds stop.

So it looks like I’ll need to learn the best way to introduce the brahmas to the older chicks.

 

[Iluveggers]

I had two groups of chicks with a 2 week difference. Here’s what I did:
Had the older chicks in one brooder (the smaller one),
Gave the new little chicks a few days in the large brooder by themselves to figure out where everything was.
I then put the older chicks into the large brooder one at a time with the small chicks. I figured they wouldn’t see it as “theirs” and would be confused enough to not pick on the littler ones. There were 6 older chicks and 4 littles, and this worked fine. I stayed and watched them for quite a while after just to make sure.

 

[mcdze]

lol 2 week chicks arnt big and mean yet, but the new guys will have to get up to speed and on the program for several days .. just put a piece a wire to seperate them, if its 8" high i doubt theyll even jump over it yet ..

 

[Ometra]

I had two groups of chicks with a 2 week difference. Here’s what I did:
Had the older chicks in one brooder (the smaller one),
Gave the new little chicks a few days in the large brooder by themselves to figure out where everything was.
I then put the older chicks into the large brooder one at a time with the small chicks. I figured they wouldn’t see it as “theirs” and would be confused enough to not pick on the littler ones. There were 6 older chicks and 4 littles, and this worked fine. I stayed and watched them for quite a while after just to make sure.

That sounds like a great way to go about it. It evens out the playing field a bit. And also returning the older chicks one at a time. How long did you wait between each older chick to return to the larger brooder?

 

[Iluveggers]

That sounds like a great way to go about it. It evens out the playing field a bit. And also returning the older chicks one at a time. How long did you wait between each older chick to return to the larger brooder?

I just put one in, waited a minute or two to make sure they didn’t go after the littles, and added another. Until they were all in. Maybe overkill, but it worked and wasn’t a huge inconvenience for peace of mind!

 

[Ometra]

I just put one in, waited a minute or two to make sure they didn’t go after the littles, and added another. Until they were all in. Maybe overkill, but it worked and wasn’t a huge inconvenience for peace of mind!

Thank you!

 

[PipersPeepers]

We did that yesterday and it worked out great so I think you should try to.

 

[Ometra]

We did that yesterday and it worked out great so I think you should try to.

I definitely plan on it!