Chicks of different ages, do I need to introduce younger chicks slowly to slightly older ones?

[Suez1uk]

Do I need to introduce my younger chicks slowly when there isn’t a huge age difference?

I have two older chicks ~9-10 weeks who are outside, one is a bantam Wyandotte and the other is a legbar f/m respectively. I need them the share a coop with five silkies (not sexed) who are 5+ weeks old, I am starting to transition the silkies to out side over 7-10 days. The weather is warm enough and I have 21 three week olds who need the space. So today the silkies have been in a pen next to the older chicks so everyone can see each other but not touch yet.
My question is as the older two are only 4-5 weeks older would there still be problems if I just put them all together, or should I stick with side to side for a week?
My only reason for wanting to push it a bit faster is the weather is going to be wet for the next week and the silkies obvs need to stay dryer, which if they had access to the coop they would be.
(The male legbar was an emergency friend for a solo hatch chick and won’t be staying permanently. I got the silkies who are about the same adult size to keep the bantam Wyandotte company)

 

[BDutch]

Yes, best give them separate coops/runs with the see don’t touch method to start with.
Make a few openings after a week, where the silkies can go through to explore and to escape back to their own territory if they get pecked.
See what happens. A few pecks are normal especially when you give them food or snacks. You can take away the fences if everything goes smooth enough.

P.S. if you don’t have a second coop you can easily make one. A litter box for cats under a roof (e.g. old table) and temporary panels with hardware cloth are good enough for a temporary solution for a few chicks. As long as its safe for predators.

 

[Suez1uk]

Yes, best give them separate coops/runs with the see don’t touch method to start with.
Make a few openings after a week, where the silkies can go through to explore and to escape back to their own territory if they get pecked.
See what happens. A few pecks are normal especially when you give them food or snacks. You can take away the fences if everything goes smooth enough.

P.S. if you don’t have a second coop you can easily make one. A litter box for cats under a roof (e.g. old table) and temporary panels with hardware cloth are good enough for a temporary solution for a few chicks. As long as its safe for predators.

It’s all a bit temporary for now, I still have two more coops and a full surround run to make, I have given them some straw and a cardboard box with the base from the rabbit hutch on top for rain shelter, which is weighted down with a bucket of old nails from stripping out the wood from an old shed to use for coops!
Predators are minor concerns at the minute, I have a livestock dog out in the paddock most of the time, or one of us are up there in the growing tunnels, not perfect but I have my fingers crossed for now.