When can I let my hen with chicks out without supervision with the flock?

[Knock Kneed Hen]

This is only the second time I've let a broody raise a couple of chicks. The first time I was letting the hen and chicks mingle with the flock (I had a creep set up for them to get away to). All was going well for a couple of weeks, then I found a scalped chick hiding in one of the nest boxes.

I'm letting the chicks I have now mingle with the flock while I'm in there cleaning. Tonight the mama went to roost and the babies jumped right up there with them. I was afraid that when the others went to roost they might get too rough with the babies so I tucked them safely in their crate inside the coop.

Am I being overprotective, perhaps a bit paranoid, because of the first experience? Chicks are 4 weeks old btw. Thanks!

 

[cr8z4chicks]

I would think there mama would protect them from the other hens, I have 4 week old babies that my hen hatched and the other hens just leave them alone because "Big Mama" is sooo protective. I think at this point they should be okay, do the other hens go after them?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I would think there mama would protect them from the other hens, I have 4 week old babies that my hen hatched and the other hens just leave them alone because "Big Mama" is sooo protective.  I think at this point they should be okay, do the other hens go after them?

One of the hens was viciously going after just one of the chicks for a while but I haven't seen her do it recently.