Give me all your advice on integrating flock!

[Raubkatze]

My chicks are 6, almost 7 weeks old, and basically only have room to sleep in their brooder, poor dears. It is time to kick them out to the coop. I plan to keep them in the brooder for a week so they can meet then hens through the slots in the sides while staying in an environment they are comfortable in. However, I am having sooooo much anxiety about the actual first introductions. Some of my hens are BIG, and a couple of my chicks are very small, especially my Frizzles that are half Silkie. Just looking for all the advice and all the reassurances on how to make this go well.

No head, all body :

These two Frizzles I have gotten have become my favorite. If I could find a good balance between getting their personality and cool feathers and good production, I would love to have an entire flock of them:

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Separate them with a fence for a week or two than let them mingle under supervision. Lock them up in the evening, and repeat every day until you feel comfortable letting them stay out. Personally I pen them back up for another month or two at night for my own peace of mind.

If your set up is large it tends to go well. A smaller set up is harder as crowded birds can be more aggressive.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I cover 2 rounds of integration here (go to about halfway down the article) plus an additional one in a separate thread - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/