When should I introduce chicks into my standard flock?

[chicken_china_mom]

I have eight chicks that hatched March 25th and 26th, they are EE's, standard size, and the intention is that eventually they will go in with my existing standard flock. When I look at my adult birds, and I look at these chicks, my adults look like they are HUGE! My standard flock comsists of a Silver Cuckoo Marans roo, and 9 hens, a BA, 1 Amber SL, 4 SLW, and 2 Welsummer mixes. My roo and my BA are really big. The others are a little smaller. I'm wondering how, and when, to properly introduce the chicks to the bigger flock? The flock all grew up together and have not had any new birds added to them yet. I know the chicks are still too small. How many more weeks should I wait? I have them indoors now and at the moment they are playing inside a pen next to me here in the living room. They are little holy terrors, but I love them! I have 2 bantams in with them that will have to go in with my bantam flock, so proper intro for them too is necessary. Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I always wait until the girls are near POL, or as close to full size as their grow out pen will accomodate...

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Me too.

 

[chicken_china_mom]

Wow, almost 6 months of chickens inside my house. Make that closer to 8 months cause I have younger chicks, PLUS eggs set to hatch shortly! Ok, it is definitely time to hit my local Lowes and try to build a new enclosure for these guys, I don't think I can tolerate 8 months of the pooping!

 

[Sequin]

Quote:
You don't have to keep them in the house necessarily, if you have a pen or divider of some sort that will keep them from being trampled and pecked on by the larger chickens. Our babies were moved out to the chicken house around 6 weeks, but they have their own space. However, my flock seems to pay them no attention whatsoever. Still, I don't want one of my roos to smoosh them or hurt them.