Joining teenage chicks with baby chicks?

[GoldenHarp]

I have three chickens that are 3½ months old and are doing very well
outside. I live in Connecticut where daily temperatures are around 80 to 85
degrees and low temps in the mid 50's

I also have three newer chicks that are 3 weeks old. They are
still inside and are also doing well.

My question is...How soon can the newer chicks join the others
outside in the coop/run? Any special instructions on combining them?

 

[elmo]

You have two factors to consider. First of all, the younger chicks will probably need supplemental warmth at least at night until they're fully feathered out. When that is depends on the breed and your particular chicks.

The second factor is the integration one. Usually, you should try to wait until the younger chickens are close in size to the older ones before you try to combine them. If your chickens are confined to a run (not freeranging) you have to be quite careful about mixing different ages since a bullied chick has no where to escape to.

I have six and seven week old chicks that I let free range in our yard with the adults while I'm watching, but I never close them up in the same pen or coop with the adults. I'm waiting until they're close to full grown before doing that.