2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[lotz2612]

A few of us have been wondering...

 

Is it ever a good idea to mix new day old chicks in with 4week old chicks? I have 3 4week old bantams in my brooder at the moment and 16 eggs ready to hatch out on Saturday in my inccy. I cant leave 16 little chicks in my inccy for ever, and i think my 3older ones will be cold at night outside, so if I put the hatchlings in the brooder once they arrive, and take the 3older ones out during the day (put them in their own special run) and put them back int he brooder with the new hatchlings at night...is that a good idea or not?

[Griffin]

You can't mix them with that big an age gap, the bigger ones will pick on the youngsters, if they don't seriously hurt them they'll at least prevent them from eating and drinking freely. To be honest you really should have thought about accomodation for separate hatches before embarking on this latest one. Lives are at risk! I don't know what you're using as a brooder but is there any way you can divide it into two?

[Roobaloo]

I've no real experience but I really wouldn't mix them! After seeing how much my now 4.5 week olds peck and shove each other...and how quick they are to spot a weakness. I would be scared they'd injured, or even kill, a very young chick.

 

Are the 4 week olds off heat yet?

 

If the older ones are out during the day, I personally would bring them in at night and put them in a cat carrier or a large box. So long as they're indoors, out of draughts, they should be warm enough cuddled together...if it's dark, they'll just sleep. This leaves the brooder free for the newly hatched ones!

[lotz2612]

Alright...calm down! I was only asking!

 

Think i'll do what you both suggested and put the 4week olds out during the day and seperate the brooder so they have somewhere to go at night.

 

And may i just say...i have a friend who puts his day old in with older ones and they are perfectly fine!!!!!

[Egluntyne]

And relax ....

 

The received wisdom, and the unfortunate experiences of a few forum members is that mixing chicks of differing ages in a brooder is not a good idea. Also, if the older ones have been outside, there is the very real risk that they will bring disease back in.

 

Can you borrow an indoor rabbit cage or similar to rig up separate night time accommodation for the older ones?

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

Good tips all round. I was wondering the same, as I have chicks due at different times and one heat lamp plenty of brooders though...

[Cheryl]

I would put the older ones in a large box or perhaps like I did, I bought a secondhand indoor rabbit cage, and they are excellent.. I think they will get pecked by the big ones but I did something rather good with my cage I separated it with my cake racks haha so they could see each other for a week or so then you could put them together..

this one is divided by cake racks and tied together with wire

heres a closer look

and this is the rabbit cage I got on ebay for 20 pounds.. it works a treat

[Wibble]

What a brilliant idea, and why didn't I think of doing that!

Thank you for the inspiration

[Cheryl]

its worked so well by the secondweek they were fully aquainted and the divider was removed..

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

I love that! Well done thats noted for future reference

[Wibble]

Cage divided ready for the newbies, now I just need a cure for this poultry obsession!

I have 3 day old Quail chicks in an old propagator, it's the perfect draught free place for them.

[Cheryl]

Yes propogators are excellent and they keep warm in there except I found my Brinsea heater was the only one that fitted underneath the electric hen doesnt the leg poles are too long.. (i hate those long wobbly legs that they have on them)

Your obsession wont wain, i'm getting worse.. just ordered extention panels for my 2nd walk in run, which will house my Baldnecks for breeding oh the excitement..... lalala

[andynjanec]

I had 5 chicks hatch 3 -4weeks after the first batch of 4 hatched.I keep them in an 8x5 shed with a heated on a thermostat. I put the new ones in a small rabbit hutch within the shed forthe first 3 -4 weekswith an internal light for extra heat.I then chucked them in together as I went on holiday for 4 weeks and felt it would be easier for the person keeping an eye on them .I had a bit of squabling for a couple of days and they have been together fine ever since.

I added a 16 week old hen we brought this week and she chose to go with now 7-10 week old chicks rather than stay with the 4 laying hens I have in the adjoining run.

All my chickens now have full access to the run and the shed.The older laying hens bully the smaller ones[ mainly the 3 cockeral chicks as they are a bit feisty] a bit but they sleep and eat separately and I have started to let them out in the garden now and they just stay together but in 2 separate groups.