Moving the new guys out

[Zoegirlup]

Hi! I have a bunch of ladies who are 13 weeks old. There is 1 Salmon Faverolle and 3 silkies. We just re-homed our 3 roo's to an awesome family yesterday. I have 2 Olive egger pullets who are 4 weeks old. I have been putting them outside everyday in a small cage so they can spend time outdoors and become acclimated to the rest of the flock. I am wondering if it be a good time to put them into the coop together? I know the little ones are young, but with the others restructuring from the loss of their hatch mates, I thought it might be less traumatic then doing it in 3 weeks or so. I don't know if I would let the little guys free range when I let them out in the mornings for an hour, because honestly they are wicked fast when I try to get them out of the pen to get them in. I was thinking of putting the brooder they are in (guinea pig cage) into the run just to see how they do. Any thoughts?

 

[aart]

Ehhh...maybe OK.
But be ready to keep youngers separated by wire wall or crate in the coop for a time.
How big is your coop and run?
Dimensions and pics would be most helpful here.

Meanwhile, here's some tips about.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/