big hens and not so little chicks

[chickenbythesea]

I have 9 golden comets that are a year old. i have 12 4-6 week old chicks. We let the chicks out into their separate run yesterday for the first time.... they had fun. I am wondering if it would be a good idea or bad one to take one of my golden comets and put her out in the run with the young ones to just be an alert... I'm sure if there was a problem the older one would raise a racket. I was also thinking that since there were 12 of the littles and one of her that she wouldn't pick on them? Also, if I took a different bird each day then no one would loose their pecking order? I know there's a head hen but really, they all get along so well that I can't tell who it is.

Has anyone done this or have thoughts on wether or not this is a good or bad idea? Thanks

 

[NateinFL]

I don't see it as a problem, it's always best when the little ones outnumber the bigger ones it makes it less of a chance they get picked on.

 

[chickenbythesea]

i tried it for a little bit this morning (until it started raining) and it went ok. She ran them off once or twice but that's all. I think I'll do this from now on... that way when it comes time to merge the groups they'll all have had some time together.