When can I introduce younger chicks to a 10 week old chick?

[Newbie to chickens]

Hi everyone, so first I got one chick that was around 5 weeks old from my relative's farm because it had a broken leg, and we needed to bring it to the vet, so we kept it for two weeks at our house to recover properly. The leg healed well, and she became really tame and attached to us, so we decided to keep her as a pet. She's now 10 weeks old. My dad and I are making a chicken coop for her in the backyard that can house around 3-5 chickens. Because they are social animals and definitely need other chickens to be happy, I bought 3 more chicks so that when they grow up they can be with her. In the meantime, I'm spending around 3 hours every day with her to keep her happy and not so lonely(she loves to cuddle!) and she gets about an hour of accompanied free range time. Unfortunately, one chick died, so there is now two. They are about two weeks old. When I showed them to our ten week old chick, she is not aggressive towards them, but she will peck their heads if they are coming near to her and she's eating. So, I'm wondering when can we add the young chicks to the chicken coop with her? any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Ten weeks is bit old. I have introduced 3 week olds to younger ones, but only if I have more younger ones than older ones, and supervised.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you put the chicks in a cage of some sort they can't get out of but can be next to the older chick so they can get acquainted safely? We call it a "see-no-touch" situation. A dog crate may work if the older chick can't peck the babies. Let them spend as much time as possible this way, and when the babies are about five or six weeks old, try integrating them and see what happens.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Put them together now. That isn't a huge age difference and a lone chicken usually embraces friends. It may be in shock the first day but by day 2 it will be pretty good after a week, the older one will become protective of her charges.
The sooner, the better. Make sure the space isn't too small.
Do you know why the one chick died?

 

[Newbie to chickens]

Alright I'll try putting them together and seeing how it goes. I think the chick died because it had something wrong internally, because I checked it for pasty butt and other issues it might have.
ps. sorry just realized there are two threads. can a moderator please combine or delete one thread?

 

[Newbie to chickens]

i tried putting them together for a while with supervision, and I noticed the bigger chick keeps pecking their heads and eyes quite aggressively. It’s my first time owning chickens so is this normal? I’ve separated them for now just in case.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They need space. How big of a brooder are they in?

 

[Newbie to chickens]

The brooder that the older chick is in is about 2.5ft x 2.5ft x 2ft. Her outdoor coop and run is not fully built yet, but it should be finished soon and then she can go in it (unless the smaller chicks need to get adjusted to her first because the outdoor coop is pretty cold with no electricity supply)

 

[BDutch]

When I showed them to our ten week old chick, she is not aggressive towards them, but she will peck their heads if they are coming near to her and she's eating. So, I'm wondering when can we add the young chicks to the chicken coop with her? any help is appreciated, thanks.

This sounds very promising. The peck is probably to establish the pecking order, to educate. She tells the chicks who is the boss.
I would put them together under supervision. Give two bowls with water and feed with some distance to avoid problems there.
A fence between them if you are not around for a few days is a possibility .

I would take a (cardboard) box and make holes in it where the chicks can flee in. But is not accessible for the 10 week old. Put feed and water in the box. And holes for light or use a piece of hardware cloth over a big opening. Make sure its sturdy enough.

Please post a few photos

 

[Newbie to chickens]

Also, the chicks are one week old. Not two. Mistake on my part, sorry!