Introducing new chicks to hens

[Urbanforager]

I have 8 chicks all about 4.5 to 5 weeks old and I've been taking em out since it's getting nicer but my two laying hens (sapphire gems) get upset and come making sounds almost like there growling and one of the little ones runs up and attacks it. Should I let big momma bird peck it to start establishing a pecking order

 

[tottrotters]

I have heard of people distracting their older girls with lots of treats while the younger girls acclimate to the new yard, however I think the best method is introduce the new girls with a protective barrier. Fence off an area next to your older girls, just enough to stop them from pecking the poor young ones to death. They will get used to each others scents and sounds and eventually (4-6 weeks) they will be able to mingle without any major altercations. I had a friend whose rooster somehow escaped the coop and was missing for about six weeks, a neighbor found him and placed him back in her coop, by the time she found him in there he had been pecked to death due to the unfamiliarity that had formed. Either way you try, you will be able to tell how your chickens feel (if you know them well enough) monitor closely and put a stop to any violent behavior you see.

 

[Bean15]

As @tottrotters said, make a barrier or separate fenced area near the older hens. I temporarily split my coop in half with chicken wire, and give it a month. then I take the divider down, and ta-da! no fighting. they may peck just a little bit to establish a pecking order, but nothing deadly or extreme. Good luck!

 

[aart]

I have 8 chicks all about 4.5 to 5 weeks old and I've been taking em out since it's getting nicer but my two laying hens (sapphire gems) get upset and come making sounds almost like there growling and one of the little ones runs up and attacks it. Should I let big momma bird peck it to start establishing a pecking order

Probably not a good idea @Urbanforager ...
....but you could try, just be ready to rescue the chicks.

I like to ingrate early, but you need to set up the space to do so:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/


This might help, some tips about....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/