When can pullets be added to the flock?

[savingdogs]

I have two orloff hens that are sisters that went broody together and hatched and raised five chicks, which are now two months old. I kept them in a different coop altogether.

The chicks are now feathered out and are big enough to be unable to escape from the big pen with the big flock. I'm not sure of the right age to return my two hens to the flock and when to put the now teenage ones out there. Should I do it all at once?
Perhaps I should mention that the two hens have always been low-ranking. And while they have been in the broody hen coop, I introduced three started pullets to the larger flock. It took awhile for them to be accepted but they were four months old when I added them and they are doing well now, about a month later.
What time of day should I put them with them and should I do anything special? My chicks are both pullets and cockerels. I do have a rooster and some of my high ranking hens can be rather bossy. The chicks are actually THEIR offspring raised by the broody sisters but of course they are too dumb to know that. They have never seen chickens this young before however they were around young ducks.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[miss_thenorth]

When my broody goes broody, I keep her isolated but in the main barn. When she hatches, i let her out with her chicks. she is fine taking care of them around the other chickens. she boots them out at 8 weeks, and they move off into a corner or quieter place of their own, until they are big enough. They eventually establish their place in the pecking order. the fact that the moms are lower in the pecking order does not really affect the chicks, they will eventually find their place. My broody is low in order also, mainly b/c she goes broody 4-5 times a year, and doesn't get to hang out with the rest as often.

Does that help?

 

[savingdogs]

Yes, it means I could have put them with the others a while ago. I've been waiting for these little ones to be too big to fit through the fence though.