Integrating new chicks...

[Chesterschickens]

I have four hens ( Black Austrolop and three Easter Eggers) and I am introducing four new littles ( one Olive Egger that I suspect is a roo, one Lavender Ameraucana also suspect, a Black Copper Maran and Easter Egger Frizzle that I think are both ladies). They are about 10 weeks old and have been out now for a month in a side by side coop with just lattice separating them. I have done a few hours here and there of letting the Bigs out to free range and letting the littles have the entire run. Then when I let the Bigs in the Littles are just there...two hens have taken it upon themselves to keep the littles in check... the other two don’t seem to mind. Lately I have done this daily... do you think I might just try leaving them together at this point? They need to sort out at some time right???? Then the other question is if the Roos will have a harder time?

 

[feathermaid]

I would say yes to letting them together, but even with 2 coops, that looks like a really small space to share. They do need to sort it all out at some point, I'm just worried that there won't be enough room, perches or hiding spots for new birds to run away or get out of sight... they could easily be cornered.

I kept only 3 chickens in a coop about the size of your larger one (3'x8') for almost 2 years with free range time all day, and I still felt they were cramped. Their coop was basically just a place to sleep, and even though I added extra vents, I don't think it was enough ventilation.

Do you plan to keep any cockerels? At 10 weeks, your older girls are probably putting them in their place because they know the boys are going to be trouble pretty soon. They might be having a rough time right now, but the girls will have it rougher later on, 6 hens is probably not enough for 2 cockerels after they reach sexual maturity. Normal ratio is 1:10. But regardless, I think you wouldn't want 8 birds in less than 80 SF at any given time (nests don't count) unless sleeping. Without that much room there will probably be lots of scuffles no matter what you do. They might actually get along fine for several months. I've noticed that space becomes more of an issue around the 1 year mark, and cockerels usually start showing their true colors a little before then.
These articles may help you:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need
Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!
Selecting Good Flock Roosters