question on introducing birds to an older flock

[barnyardcritters]

This may be a similar post like many others and I have been trying to educate myself and understand better. I have 9 barred rock hens, a white hen and a dominant rooster. The hens are older and just really don't lay much and I am probably going to be getting rid of them. I am going to be getting 10 austrolorp chicks in the upcoming week or so they will be in my home in a brooder until able to transition in the barn. My question is at what age should I introduce the chicks into the coop with the older birds. Now my Rooster I have I don't know if I want to keep him because he does have days where he can be a nasty fellow and that also may depend on what I have for chicks. Do I wait till chicks are almost full size which I believe some say between 12-14 weeks? Some say to introduce chicks to hens? What would be best or would it really matter seeing as though I wont be keeping older hens.

Thanks for all your help

Jeanne

 

[dsqard]

Here is a link to a good article written by Chookschick on how to integrate different age chickens. http://www.examiner.com/urban-chick...ickens-101-introducing-new-birds-to-the-flock I like to wait until the chicks don't sound like chicks anymore so there is less fighting.