Need answer quickly about moving chicks

[moonlitfarms]

Sorry to start new thread but I need an answer quickly and I don't have time to sit and read all these post.

My pullets are 12 weeks old, I have a bacth of mature laying hens and a Rooster. When and how can I put them together. They need to move in with the bigger birds for saftey reasons but I'm afraid the Roo will hurt them. Wise ones please help.

 

[moonlitfarms]

Can someone please help on this.

 

[Anne]

If they absolutely have to be put in together, do it, but make sure you'll be around to supervise for the first day to make sure the younger ones don't get beat up too badly -- or killed.

Ideally, they would be slowly introduced to each other through adjoining pens.

They are probably old enough to fend for themselves (or at least run away), but sudden introductions often produce lots of missing feathers and even a little blood, so be warned.

EDIT: The biggest danger of a sudden introduction is probably stress -- stressed-out birds are more prone to illness.