Older chicken - danger to young chickens

[RunDontStop]

Here is my situation. I had 3 mature chickens, 3 years old. 2 killed by predator. One survived.
Got 3 young chickens.
2 of those killed by predator.
Then a few days later, my older chicken killed the last little one. During the day, in the run.
I think I have the predator problem worked out.
Built a new large pen, 5' x 10'.
Got 3 new chickens, young, but not little chicks.
I am keeping them separated from the older one. But their pen is right beside hers, so they see each other all day.
Last night, thought I would try putting them in the coop with the older one. (they have been sleeping in the house)
When I put them all in the coop at dusk - the older chicken was very frantic, pecking at the screen.
I don't want her killing the little ones.
So I put them in a crate in the run, separated. They slept outside.
But I want them to sleep in the coop, all together.
What should I do?

 

[WIchickMama]

how long have you had the new chicks?

 

[RunDontStop]

how long have you had the new chicks?

I have had them for 8 days. I think they are two months old.

 

[aart]

Then a few days later, my older chicken killed the last little one. During the day, in the run.

Did you see it happen?
Because.....

I think I have the predator problem worked out.

Maybe not?

 

[NatJ]

I don't want her killing the little ones.
So I put them in a crate in the run, separated. They slept outside.
But I want them to sleep in the coop, all together.
What should I do?

I have had them for 8 days. I think they are two months old.

Some hens accept young chicks in their space easily, but some do not.
You might just need to keep them separated for a while longer.
You could try putting them together again every week or so, and separating them again if it does not work yet.
Within a month or two, the chicks will be quite a lot bigger, and the hen will be more used to having them around, so I don't think it will take longer than that.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I believe you'll get there but it takes time. I have a hen that is vicious to anyone smaller than herself. We've had to be careful with who she is introduced to.

To introduce new birds to her, I have done "see, not touch", where my three to four month age chickens have their own area in the coop and she and the older chickens can watch them. Three weeks seems to work for my chicken to accept newbies.

At one point with the first group of youngsters, the new chickens riled this older hen up so much she began to go after her same aged flock mates. she ended up getting put in the smaller section with one other friend, while the new birds and the other older birds coexisted without incident. She was in "time out" like that for two weeks. They all live together now just fine. I've gone through the process with this particular hen three times!