So we have a very complex setup for our birds. We have an overnight pen where they can be locked in safely from predators and a moveable day pen where we move them around the yard to get fresh grass bugs etc. We have two sets of each of these pens. One pen has 6 of my year old hens in it and the other has 8 of my 12 week old chicks in it. I put the day pens side by side so the two flocks can see each other and get used to each other. We have been doing this for about 2-3 weeks now. I would like to put the two flocks together and just have one pen each. We let both flocks out together in the evening when we are moving them, but they really just ignore each other and go to their separate overnight pens. Whenever one of the babies goes near one of the big girls, the big girl will peck them and they will run back with the other babies. I'm not sure what to do next in order to integrate both flocks. I understand about pecking order, but I also want to protect the babies. Will the big girls kill the babies if I put them in with the babies? If I put them in the overnight pen there is a run and room for them to "escape" also. Thanks for the help!! I think this is one of the hardest jobs of having chickens!!