When do you integrate a broody with chicks back into the flock?

[joyous]

I have a broody with 6 chicks about 4 weeks old...is it safe to put it with the flock...if not what age, or do you wait until the chicks are almost full size? I have also heard that broodies sometimes wean their chicks..how can they do that if they are stuck in the same pen.or should I just separate them at some time? ( this picture was taken when they were only a few
days old) Thanks, I usually incubate and wait until they are almost full grown to put them with the older chickens, but I was wondering with mama to protect them, could I do it earlier.

 

[sumi]

I'd say wait 'till they are a bit older. Broodies wean chicks when they are about 7 weeks or older, usually older. You'll notice she'll chase the chicks away when it's feeding time or ignore them or maybe even bite them. Then it's time.