So - I had a broody hen - I gave her 11 fertile eggs to sit on - set her up in a spot outside the coop and secure run but inside the chicken yard so she could still interact with the flock. Day 7 - a crow took an egg while she was off eating, so I enclosed her space and nest box - Day 12 - 10 eggs candled and security measures increased anticipating 'lockdown'. Hatch day -- 6 chicks (lost 1 within 12 hours ) 1 'bad egg' and 1 stopped development egg -- WHAT?? 2 more eggs are AWOL from underneath her ? Another security upgrade. Flock can see Mama and 5 chicks in the yard - interact through the separation fence and everything seems to be good. Unfortunately, 3 days after hatch I found the enclosure door destroyed, 5 baby chicks peeping anxiously and Mama hen's body in the yard. My fault for not anticipating the threats. So - I built a new enclosure in the secure run - big enough for 6 week +/- pullets and they have been hanging out and interacting well with the big girls as they pass by etc. Should I keep them separated by fencing for 6 weeks? Or can I integrate them earlier since they have seen them and interacted with them since day 1?