3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[Franki]

Hi all,

 

Wondered if you can help...

I am tempted to pick up some Lavender Frizzle Pekins tomorrow (they are hatching as we speak!).

I currently have 2 Cream Legbars (just over 2 weeks). The breeder says that it shouldn't be a problem if I put them in together, as long as I keep a close eye on things the first day. She also suggested that I clean the brooder out and bring the 2 week-olds with me in a cardboard box when I collect the day-olds. That way they arrive together in the clean brooder.

Has anyone else had any experience with this? Any advice? Tips?

I'm also a bit concerned about the logistics of the heating. I have an electric hen (currently on middle setting) which the Legars are mostly ignoring (except at night). I'd have to lower this though for the day-olds. Would it then be too hot for the legbars? There's plenty of space for them to get away from it.

Sorry but I'm such a novice!

[Tweety]

Hopefully someone with more experience than me will come along shortly, but my advice would be not to mix them. There will be a huge diffence in size, and needs, and I think that the older ones will not take kindly to the new chicks.

[Franki]

Thanks,

I thought that may be the answer. The breeder has made it sound simple but I'm not so sure. I want to do what's right by them but also can't be bothered to set up another brooder. So if they can't go together I'd rather wait to get more chicks.

[Egluntyne]

I think it might be risky.

[Franki]

Thanks for your advice.

I have chatted to the breeder and decided to wait.

She will have more in 6 weeks, which will be good timing as the Legbars should be outside by then.

For future information, if you're integrating young chicks, I actually had the wrong idea of how she was suggesting I integrate them. She suggested putting the new chicks and the older ones (first introduction) in a shoe box (with a lid) in the dark, for no more than 5/10 mins (so little ones don't get cold). Then putting them in the (clean) brooder together. She said she'd done this quite by accident once and now has done it many times with repeated success. She did however feel that my chicks were possibly too big/old (2 weeks+) to do this successfully. She was really helpful and I thought I would share this as I thought it may be a good tip!

Will just have to wait now for my little baby frizzles. On the positive it means chicks all summer!