I let them self-introduce. I brood outdoors and the light attracts insects so they get some bug catching in very early. When they begin ranging, they get to explore greenery. I don't have a set age, just with supervision on the first day it's warm enough. The latest batch had their first outing at one week. I put tiny grit in a metal lid (think rough sand) right from the start so they can process the insects and then remove the lid once they are ranging with the adults.
Many approaches -- you just decide what works for you and what risk/benefit you're comfortable with. I lost a few with my first batch to predators because I was ranging them with minimal supervision after 12 weeks. The survivors are wiser and I had high hopes that the next batch would be broody-reared but no such luck. So, I'm doing my best broody imitation. Haven't lost any this time.
Many approaches -- you just decide what works for you and what risk/benefit you're comfortable with. I lost a few with my first batch to predators because I was ranging them with minimal supervision after 12 weeks. The survivors are wiser and I had high hopes that the next batch would be broody-reared but no such luck. So, I'm doing my best broody imitation. Haven't lost any this time.
