Using weeks old chicks to raise new chicks

[Cyprus]

Having never been fortunate enough to have a broody hen, all of my chickens have been brooder raised. I've hit every common complication in the books; coccidiosis; pasty butt; chilling; drowning. Fun times, not. Heat sources have burned out, been knocked over, exploded, melted, lost and in the last 4 days I've lost power twice for over 8 hours each time. It became impractical to rely on supplemental heat.
So instead I did what I've already had success with before. Take my day old chicks and put them in the brooder with my 3wk old chicks. In broad daylight with no previous introduction. And it was fine. The older chicks couldn't care less about the new additions. And what's more, the older chicks don't need additional heat so I retract it.
The day olds know how life works and when they get cold they go under an older chick. The older chicks aren't even phased. No pecks, no running away. They just let the littles snuggle right under them. First time doing this I used two cockerels. This time, 3 pullets and one cockerel. Most often it is the male who takes them.

The chicks wean themselves by 3 weeks and all is good. No pasty butt ever happens and nobody complains about temperature.

See the fuzzy? The other is in the back, under another chick.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Wow. You must be lucky with those chicks

My chooks would never allow that to happen. Nope, no way.

Also, they’re cute. At what age does the show-stopping Mille fluer pattern fully blossom? Or are these more plain that usual?

 

[Cyprus]

Wow. You must be lucky with those chicks

My chooks would never allow that to happen. Nope, no way.

Also, they’re cute. At what age does the show-stopping Mille fluer pattern fully blossom?

Well, by 8 months my pullet was nicely flecked. My cockerel, not so much. 12-18 months is usually the mark.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Well, by 8 months my pullet was nicely flecked. My cockerel, not so much. 12-18 months is usually the mark.

Ah, thanks! So the cockerel is more pet quality? Or does the amount of flecking matter in showing?

Sorry for derailing your thread, btw.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've done this several times to one extent or another. I once had a cockerel about 10 weeks old that had been raised alone. I then put eight 5 day old chicks with him.
At first he freaked out but then took them under his wing and he attacked me each time I put my hand in with them.

 

[Cyprus]

Ah, thanks! So the cockerel is more pet quality? Or does the amount of flecking matter in showing?

Sorry for derailing your thread, btw.

The amount of flecking matters, and while the cockerel has good conformation he lacks enough flecking. In time that should change.

 

[Cyprus]

To clarify if needed:
They are huddling in the photo because they are scared of my phone. Just a moment beforehand they were all spread out and content.

 

[HuffleClaw]

To clarify if needed:
They are huddling in the photo because they are scared of my phone. Just a moment beforehand they were all spread out and content.

Awesome. They’re looking great.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I bought my chicks at about one week. One was bigger than the other three. The littles all tried to get under her, but it didn’t work that well!

Glad to see your young’ns are raising the babies for you!

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.