I have seen how pullets are integrated more once they start laying, but even though they're not currently laying the older hens are still higher up in the pecking order!
Do any of you trim or clip your rooster's spurs?
Last year Tamar had a wound under her wing, and eventually died. It was suggested to me by a farmer that the wound was probably from the rooster being careless during mating, that trimming his spurs could help prevent a reoccurance.