How Old Will Her Chicks Have to Be...?

[peepinglaura]

How old will my hen's babies have to be before I can take her and her brood back to our general chicken population? I was assuming around 6-8 weeks? I assume roos generally don't try to mate with something that doesn't lay yet? Our rooster left our other pullets alone until just before they became fertile.

Thanks,

Laura

 

[peepinglaura]

I should add that I have introduced chicks to my flock before (I waited till they were older and did it gradually), but I'm wondering how the dynamic changes with a mama hen involved.

Thanks,

Laura