Intrducing young chicks

[Gamecock]

How difficult is it to intrduse new chickens to an older flock. I have 3 Dominiqes (one Roo) 7mos old. At one wk old I got 3 Americanas and 1 Rhode Island Red, (which I was told was a golden comet. They are now almost 9wks old. Will my older rooster be as protective with the new chicks as he is with the 2 he has now? When would bw a good time to allow them to be together. The older ones are free roaming. During the day I put the young ones in the run so a gate is seperating them for now.

 

[midget_farms]

The best way I've found is to sneak them into the coop at night when the others are asleep. The old hens & rooster can't count & don't know how many chickens were in there when they went to sleep. When they get up if there are more they just accept it.

They will still go through the pecking order.