Hatched and now where do I put them...?

[Farmin Armen]

Hey everyone -

Incubated eggs and all but two hatched. I think the last two are duds and will do a dud test(but no movement or sound or signs of internal pip), but that's not why I'm here.

I have 6 chicks, about 3-4 weeks old in the brooder. How easy is it to just drop my new chicks in with my 3-4 week olds? Do I need to worry about pecking?

 

[sourland]

I would wait until the new chicks are at least a week old and more mobile to assure that they are not trampled and crushed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would wait until the new chicks are at least a week old and more mobile to assure that they are not trampled and crushed.

^^^ This!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We've raised chicks in a large plastic tote until they are about 3 weeks old, with puppy pee pads on the bottom that we changed daily for sanitation. You'll need some way of warming them until they're feathered enough to not need heat.