How old should my pullets be before I introduce a new hen?

[Ldeal]

I currently have 4 6 week old pullets and will be adding a 10 month old hen to the flock. My question is what is the best age to introduce my younger girls to the older girl?
These are my pullets they are 3 EEs and 1 mystery.

This is the 10 month old hen I will be getting. She is a splash blue laced wyandotte. She was getting picked on bad by the ladies larger flock so she moved herin with her bantams and i guess she's still being picked on with them.

I'm more worried about mine also picking on her.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In an ideal world, one would quarantine new birds for at least a month as far as possible from your flock. Also, in an ideal world, one doesn't mix chicks with adults due to disease issues.
However, since you want to add a single bird to a flock of four, it would be best to do so while the flock is young. Once they are fully grown, they may be very hard on a single bird.
It's best to introduce like numbers and like sizes.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Would be a nice idea to quartine.Nothing wrong with adults and babies mixing as long as no one is sick and nobody is getting severely beaten.A few pecks her and there are normal.
To be honest ,the hen in he pics looks very unbothered.You guys are probably witnessing normal chicken behavior but don’t even know it.
Also,it’s best to intergrate young,that way you avoid fights.Their at an age where I seriously doubt they will fight that hen,nor pick at it.
Try an introduction and see what happens,that’s all I can say.

 

[aart]

Adding a single bird to an established flock can be difficult,
it's a situation that's prime for being 'picked on'.
Bringing in an older bird is also a risk for also bringing in disease and/or pests.
Not a great idea to take in a bird you 'feel sorry for',
or that some other keeper has not been able to manage.

Are your 6 week olds the only birds you have?
Looks like you've been a member here for long time,
but with a big gap between 2012 and 2018.

 

[Red Banks]

I currently have 4 6 week old pullets and will be adding a 10 month old hen to the flock. My question is what is the best age to introduce my younger girls to the older girl?
These are my pullets they are 3 EEs and 1 mystery.View attachment 1376018
This is the 10 month old hen I will be getting. She is a splash blue laced wyandotte. She was getting picked on bad by the ladies larger flock so she moved herin with her bantams and i guess she's still being picked on with them.View attachment 1376019 View attachment 1376021
I'm more worried about mine also picking on her.

There is always a pecking order and removing the low man in the pecking order only makes a new low man. Every time she is moved to improve her situation she will be the target. Chickens don't like new members unless they grew up with them, i.e. as chicks or hatch mates.

 

[Ldeal]

Adding a single bird to an established flock can be difficult,
it's a situation that's prime for being 'picked on'.
Bringing in an older bird is also a risk for also bringing in disease and/or pests.
Not a great idea to take in a bird you 'feel sorry for',
or that some other keeper has not been able to manage.

Are your 6 week olds the only birds you have?
Looks like you've been a member here for long time,
but with a big gap between 2012 and 2018.

Yes, back in 2011 I had 4 hens and i joined this group. I ended up losing them and never got more until this April.