Here's my experience: The pullet from last year hatched the 7 chicks in a broody "coop within the coop". They could see each other but not "touch". At 2 weeks I introduced the family to the rest of the flock for about 4 hours/day. At 3 weeks I integrated the hen and chicks, dawn to dusk. She still took her chicks into her broody pen for the night and I shut them in and let them out in the morning with the rest. All went well.
However, this mother was 2nd from the top in the pecking order. She was very aggressive in protecting her chicks and there was no mishaps.
Currently I have another pullet, first-time mother, with one chick (felt sorry for her because she was relentlessly broody). However, she's about 5th or 6th in the pecking order of 9 ladies. I'm not planning on integrating her for awhile. Certainly not at 3 weeks. I plan on playing it by ear.
The flock seems to get along well as long as they all "know their place". I just don't want to risk the chick being injured and dying.
I also have another broody but she's also low on the totem pole so I plan on breaking her.
