When can I put my 12-15 week old chicks with my 4 hens and rooster?

[a_harrison9]

I have around 17 chicks ranging from 12-15 weeks old. I have a few roosters and hens in the bunch. I also have 4 big older hens and a rooster. The chicks pen is attached to my big chickens pen so they are only separated by chicken wire and see each other every day. When could I put my chicks in with my big chickens? I have attached pictures of my chicks, hens, and roosters for reference as well as their pens.

Here is my rooster looking at the chicks like he always does lol.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would just open the gate and let them mingle. This is how I integrate my chicks with adults and I usually do it at about 8 weeks, since they are face-to-face like this from about three weeks on. Likely they won't even notice the difference.

Wouldn't hurt to add another feeder and waterer so there's plenty for that many birds, and also some "clutter" for the younger kids to hide under or behind. This can be anything, like chairs laid on their sides, a sheet of plywood leaned against the coop or the fence, an old table or coffee table, or a sheet of plywood laid across two sawhorses.

The only other thing I would say is to keep an eye on the cockerels for fighting and also that they don't terrorize the pullets. Cockerels mature earlier than pullets, and quickly get to that stage where they have only one thing on their randy little minds, and will go after the pullets whether thd pullets are ready or not. If that happens, round up the sex-crazed males and put them back in the brooder by themselves to cool down for a few weeks and give the pullets some peace.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with the above, I would leave the gate open so that they can go to both places. And keep both feeders with feed.

If you are really nervous, you might just open up both groups to a yard, which would be more neutral territory. A trick I have used is to flip places, put the old ones where the new ones are, and vice versa.

Territory is the place the bird is, and even though they can see the other territory, it is not the same as being there. There seems to be the thinking, that because you have kept them separate, they are not suppose to be in that other territory and the original birds will defend it. If you flip them, they both claim both territories - just let them stay there two days. Then put them together.

But however you do it, do it when you can stay close by, and keep an eye on things, sometimes you get a perfectly normal hen, turn into the witch from h3!!. If so pull her out for a few days.

Mrs K