Integrating three ages of chicks.

[Appalachickens]

Okay, I know this wasn't the most well-thought out chicken acquisition plan, but so it goes. I have four five-week-old chicks who just moved to a dog crate that is open to an area that includes an A-frame brooder with four 1-week old chicks. The older one are very curious and frequently watch the little ones through the chicken wire. The older ones spend part of every day in the coop/run and should be ready to move out there in a week or so. To complicate things, my original order of 6 chicks from McMurray arrive next week, so they'll be 10-14 days younger than the middle set. My question: How (and when) do I safely merge all these chicks? Here's the current set-up.

And this is the look-but-no-touch part:

 

[nuthatched]

The oldest chicks can go out to the coop if it's ready and the youngest chicks can mingle, as their only a few days apart.

 

[Appalachickens]

The oldest chicks can go out to the coop if it's ready and the youngest chicks can mingle, as their only a few days apart.

We have a week of rain and cold coming, so I’m waiting to move the older ones the following week. But then I’m not sure how to move the littles when it’s time.