Silly me! Coop logistics query-- 2 different flocks one door(putting new chicks into the coop!)?

Hi all-- My birds are all ok, my current pain is that when we built a second coop onto the first one we ended up with only one door on the far end that the 7 week old Big chicks come and go by (and they sleep huddled together in a corner next to it...)-- what to do when I put my newbies into the coop with them (next week when they are 4 weeks old)? My plan was to put some netting (that plastic orange stuff you see at construction sites its flat plastic) dividing the coop into 2 sections-- the newbies go into the back half first, put up the orange netting, then in go the 4 Big chicks, then shut the door.

(there is a side back panel that opens up for cleaning, but it is in the half next to the door so not useful for the chicks' entrance)-- so not sure what to do when I want to start integrating them--

let the Big chicks out, chase them out of the run (8x5 ft- built onto the end with the door) and then let the little chicks out?

I am being careful because there is a dominant pullet who bosses everyone (she looks nothing like the Roo who has a big red comb and wattle developing) and has been staring at the chicks and pecking at them through the run barrier(there is a chick that pecks back at her but the size difference is so great the little chicks wouldnt stand a chance-- they are all Jersey Giants)....

And to make logistics worse, the little chick run was built onto the end of the Run so they would have to find their way out of the run (there is a "gate" ) and go out 8 ft to the end to their little area-- I was going to open a corner so the Bigger ones couldnt get into it but the little ones would have their feeder/ waterers in there as usual...

Just picture a long rectangle, doublecoop on the left end, cleaning door opens up on the side facing you, coop door to run opens into the Run on the right end, with second run built on the end---

(there is a second cleaning door opposite side for the addon coop but it got fenced in d/t septic work and is not feasible for use)....

SOOO... any ideas would be appreciated...would like to avoid having to spend a week outside with the birds monitoring for squabbles (I have to go to work!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by flockwatcher 

I would probably put the dominant, bossy one in "chicken jail" for a week, then put all the rest together.  Perhaps you could wait til you have a dy or part of a day off to monitor it.

Sadly, Ms Dominant was eaten today (sigh) ....

 I have 4 days off next week and was going to transition them then.... (sigh... Predators are so hard on the Flock, especially when it is your much loved Dog)....

At this rate transitioning wont be so hard as we only have 3 to mix in w 15 now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Teacherchick 

I'm so sorry for your loss.  That must be a difficult situation.    

Thanks, it was hard to lose her-- it seems the favorite, bossy big chickens are the ones to get eaten first (I think b/c they dont run away as quickly as the little fearful ones)...

Luckily we test drove the coop last night and it all worked out!

The three big chickens flew straight back to the end of the coop (they were anxious to get inside, we had come home late from the County Fair and they waiting to be let into the Coop) we set up the partition and then loaded the littles in through the front door, set out bowl of mash for each group of chickens, and viola-- everything looked great this morning and they are out "free ranging" we have a fenced off backyard in the middle of our 2 acres that we are using as the "run"....