Intergrating chicks/ feed question

[nh10ring]

I have 8 mature Barred Rocks and 6 Buff Orpington chicks that are now 8 weeks old. I have kept them seperated in the coop, but am thinking about intergrating them soon.
1) Is it too early to intergrate them?
2) Should I continue to feed the chicks "grower" or is it alright for them to jump to the pellets that the mature birds are eating?

I am just finishing off a bag of grower now and don't know whether to buy another or just have them eat what the big birds do.

 

[Opa]

In this old roosters opinion there is to much size difference to intergrate them now. You would guite possibly has a pecking disaster. Additionally, the chicks should stay on 20% protein until point of lay to insure they get the proper nutrients for development. Layer contains to much calcium for young birds. So just from the feeding stand point, mixing the birds wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This article discusses integration better than I ever could.

Buff Hooligan’s Adding to your flock
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

I agree with Opa on both questions.