mixing 17 day-old chicks

[chickenfan]

Hope its OK to check with someone - I have two French Marans chicks with a bantam broody who is pecking them. I have two hybrid chicks in a pen with an electric hen which I got as a companion to a bantam that she rejected. Can I add the two marans chicks to these (at night)? They are the same age. Will they accept two newcomers and allow them under the electric hen heat too? It is c12" square.

I don't want to get this wrong and find they are not accepted by the new chicks or the broody. The broody has reared chicks successfully in the past. She is perhaps wrong hormonally as she now has a bright red comb and wants to be out and about. Its distressing her pecking the chicks, and their growth has slowed down compared with the ones under the electric hen, although they initially grew very fast and were bigger than the hybrids.

Big mistake starting so early in the year..

 

[Chuck]

You could try mixing them and it will probably be safer than leaving them with the broody. Also give two lots of feed and water at either end of the brooder. Keep an eye to see that all goes well and if it doesn't, see if you could divide the area under the brooder.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you very much for your helpful suggestions, Chuck. Its a good idea having two lots of food and drink, and somehow dividing the area up if things go wrong. I can't supervise tomorrow, so am postponing it until tomorrow night.