Would you err on letting them out of their playpen earlier?
You can try letting them out earlier and go by what you see. My main fenced run is 12' x 32', about the same size as yours. I also have a large area inside electric netting, 45' x 65'. 350 square feet isn't that big but you can increase the quality of that space with clutter.
But sometimes it really is that easy. Try it when you can observe and see if you really need to lock them up or not. All these tricks are to make it more likely you will be successful. That includes housing them "see but no touch" for a while. None of these give you any guarantees you won't have problems. Skipping one or more does not give you any guarantees that it won't work. Use as many of them as you reasonably can and see what happens. Go by what you see more than by what strangers like me over the internet tell you what you might see.
Where are they going to sleep at night? You mentioned two coops but I don't remember if these are sleeping by themselves or with other adults. If they are locked in a coop with other adults when they are awake there are some risks. They can't run away if they need to. They may need to be trained where to sleep. If you do lock them in a coop with adults overnight I'd be down there at daybreak to open the pop door until you are OK with them being locked in there together. I let mine roam with the flock for a while during the day before I try that and I have a large coop with clutter, it has never been a problem. But I still make a point to be down there at daybreak the first morning or two just to be safe. My brooder is in the coop. Sometimes if the numbers aren't that high I just open the brooder door at 5 weeks of age and walk away. If it s getting crowded I keep some in my grow-out coop for a few weeks before I move them into the main coop. I haven't had a problem with any of these.
I'd be OK leaving them penned next to the adults for a while before I let them mingle, I think yours are still young enough and that does introduce them to the rooster. Can you use that time to train them where to sleep? And you would have a safe place to put them if they need to be isolated when you do try.
You can try letting them out earlier and go by what you see. My main fenced run is 12' x 32', about the same size as yours. I also have a large area inside electric netting, 45' x 65'. 350 square feet isn't that big but you can increase the quality of that space with clutter.
But sometimes it really is that easy. Try it when you can observe and see if you really need to lock them up or not. All these tricks are to make it more likely you will be successful. That includes housing them "see but no touch" for a while. None of these give you any guarantees you won't have problems. Skipping one or more does not give you any guarantees that it won't work. Use as many of them as you reasonably can and see what happens. Go by what you see more than by what strangers like me over the internet tell you what you might see.
Where are they going to sleep at night? You mentioned two coops but I don't remember if these are sleeping by themselves or with other adults. If they are locked in a coop with other adults when they are awake there are some risks. They can't run away if they need to. They may need to be trained where to sleep. If you do lock them in a coop with adults overnight I'd be down there at daybreak to open the pop door until you are OK with them being locked in there together. I let mine roam with the flock for a while during the day before I try that and I have a large coop with clutter, it has never been a problem. But I still make a point to be down there at daybreak the first morning or two just to be safe. My brooder is in the coop. Sometimes if the numbers aren't that high I just open the brooder door at 5 weeks of age and walk away. If it s getting crowded I keep some in my grow-out coop for a few weeks before I move them into the main coop. I haven't had a problem with any of these.
I'd be OK leaving them penned next to the adults for a while before I let them mingle, I think yours are still young enough and that does introduce them to the rooster. Can you use that time to train them where to sleep? And you would have a safe place to put them if they need to be isolated when you do try.
