UGH! Intergrating chickens

[Youngmomof3]

I'm so sad. I feel like an awful mother to my chickens and my children. I have 11 year old hens. I purchased 10 babies this year. They were completely separate for awhile. Four days ago, I put them together in the coop, but sections apart. One of my babies got out of her section while I was gone today. The older hens pecked her to death. My hubby will be fixing the sectioned off portion tonight so this can not happen again. UGH! I seriously feel sick and my children are freaking out. Not sure I will ever be brave enough to put them together.

What's a good age to try? What can I do to lessen the pecking. (I expect some). Any thoughts, comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated for this newer chicken owner.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Add like sizes and like numbers.
Flock animals don't like outsiders.

When they get close to the same size put half the older ones in quarantine and add all the younger ones at night. Then after a couple days start adding an older one at a time.
The biggest bullies should be the ones separated and the last introduced.

 

[graciesmum]

When I asked about iintegrating my babies to my girls, I was told the following, wait until they are about the same size as the older girls, do not put babies in if they still sound like babies, and once you want to join them together wait till your older girls are roosting and then place your youngster in the house with them, in the morning when you go to feed them and let them out, make alot of noise and commotion because 1 it will take there mind off the newbies and 2 all birds will run together and feed together, im a newbie so only passing on what i was told, hope it helps