Will a one week age difference cause aggresion?

[ticks]

Quote:
There wont be much of a size difference between week olds and day olds.

 

[retiredwithchicks]

I have about 45 chicks that are one week older than the 35 others and no problems at all. Kept them separate for about a week and then they have been together ever since. Only kept them apart to see if they were OK physically from 3 days in shipment. They could see each other through the rabbit cages. They are now 5 and 6 weeks old and get along fine.

 

[ticks]

So I have gotten a few different answers, I thinK I am going to slowly introduce the new chicks, section off the brooder with holes so they can see the other chicks. But its only one week and I don't think that the older chicks will even have a pecking order or know who is dominant.

 

[walkswithdog]

I usually give the new kids a small space where they can see and be seen if I have any questions about the behavior of the chicks already in the brooder. Given some time to look at one another things usually resolve fairly quickly.

Tolerance of new ones is both an individual and sometimes a breed tendency thing. I was surprised that the Delawares (2 weeks older) accepted some baby BAmutts with little or no problems except for using them (like everything and everyone else in the brooder) as trampolines.

My sizzles took all of about four minutes to accept some new baby dels this week, took the BAmutts a bit longer though they were MUCH closer in age - six days apart.

Watch, don't assume. When in doubt, give them time to watch one another. I keep the Sizzles in the house brooder despite their age because they actually ARE good with the new babies that I've been getting in every week or ten days. I move the others that are more active or less accepting out to the big brooder as needed.

Good luck, keep your eyes open. Usually it goes pretty well.

 

[ticks]

Thank you for that info

 

[sunnibunny99]

When my babies were about 2/3 weeks old i bought a new 3 day old baby and no one bullied her!


Now their 1 1/2 months old and shes about 2 weeks and they are best friends!


(she used to nestle under them in hopes of getting warm, SO cute!)