mixing new borns ?

[davefromthechipie]

Hi all
Is it ok to mix new borns ? say my 1st lot are 10 days old or so , with ones that are about to hatch ( left in the incu for 24 hours ) ? then I have another lot coming within 2 weeks or will i need split sections /heat bulbs for each hatch??

[chicken slave]

no no no never mix youngsters, you most probably have been feeding your new ones with medicated feed, which means they will be passing the coccidiosis out. If you put young ones in they will eat the poopy before they have had enough medicated feed to fight the bacteria and then you are on a slippery slope and they will most probably struggle to survive.
It is best to keep them seperate completely buy another heat lamp or electric hen or both if you have 2 lots coming. I use electric hens as they are safer and don't cost much to run, and the bulb doesn't blow just when you need it.
Hope that helps any questions PM me.

[davefromthechipie]

no no no never mix youngsters, you most probably have been feeding your new ones with medicated feed, which means they will be passing the coccidiosis out. If you put young ones in they will eat the poopy before they have had enough medicated feed to fight the bacteria and then you are on a slippery slope and they will most probably struggle to survive.
It is best to keep them seperate completely buy another heat lamp or electric hen or both if you have 2 lots coming. I use electric hens as they are safer and don't cost much to run, and the bulb doesn't blow just when you need it.
Hope that helps any questions PM me.

It has but has worryed me at the same time ( medicated feed ....) i havnt given any of my chicks anything apart from chick crumbs from my local farm shop and it hasnt got any medication in it >.< i use infrared heat lamp and will get another tomorrow thanks CS but still should i start feeding them med food now ????

[chicken slave]

You can start feeding them it now, I do as coccidiosis is nasty and can wipe out your flock (big or small) there is medication if they do get it but preventative is always better than cure I think. I am all for organic and will supply chicks without any medication but I keep them well seperated from my birds and wild birds.
I would use a search engine on 'coccidiosis' and read for yourself what it is then make an informed decision, as mine is a personal view.

[davefromthechipie]

You can start feeding them it now, I do as coccidiosis is nasty and can wipe out your flock (big or small) there is medication if they do get it but preventative is always better than cure I think. I am all for organic and will supply chicks without any medication but I keep them well seperated from my birds and wild birds.
I would use a search engine on 'coccidiosis' and read for yourself what it is then make an informed decision, as mine is a personal view.

Thanks cs so as i havnt been giving my 1st lot this med yet and Il start when this 2nd batch is hatched its ok to put in the same pen ?

and the next lot in 2 weeks il keep apart for a week or so on this med food .. ?

[chicken slave]

When you do mix them I would keep a close eye on them (especially batch 1) if there is any runny poo then think about a course of treatment. The other lots I would mix at about 4 weeks when there systems have had a good dose of medicated food and they are stronger in themselves. This is about the age that mine start pinching unmedicated from the goslings and they have been fine and healthy.

[Hilary B]

I would be wary of mixing youngsters where the older ones are twice (or more) the age of the younger. Risk of bullying is significant. You may be able to divide a pen and use one lamp for 2 groups (hang it over the partition, slightly favouring the younger chicks).

[davefromthechipie]

Great thanks you 2 I will do this ,split the pen up from the mid of the infared light and get some of this med feed tomorrow as im going there to get the posts of start on my fox proof fencing , when the 3rd lot are hatching il join the 1st and 2nd lot and do the same again