How to introduce new chicks to flock

[kaumlauf]

Hi, I have 3 six week old Barred Rock pullets and 2 guineas and one Bantam (that was mistaken for a guinea at one day old), all purchased together May 27 at a TS. These are in a separate pen contained inside the main coop). I have an existing flock of 17 hens (all 3 years or older) and one very large Barred Rock Rooster (8 mos old). Everyone gets along pretty well. They free range within a fenced in meadow and come into the coop at night. I have never introduced young ones to older ones. What advice would you give? I am thinking of waiting till they are 8 weeks old before joining them in.

 

[DobieLover]

I start introducing young chicks at 3 weeks and they start integration at 4 weeks and are usually fully integrated by 6 weeks old.
If they have been in a look don't touch situation for over a week, you can permit them to free range together. The chicks will likely not leave the run for a while if you have one.
The first thing you want to make sure you have is a lot of feed stations, places to hide, and places to hop up on and perch. The more space you have per bird the better. Trying to integrate new flock members in small spaces usually leads to a lot of chaos, chasing and sometimes bloody birds.

 

[kaumlauf]

Thank you! The chicks have been in a look but don't touch scenario for at least 2 weeks. The fenced in meadow is about a half acre, with a lot of raspberry bushes and other tall grasses. I'll get more feeding stations up and places to hop up on.