Building a new coop

[junkman56]

I made a corral with cattle fence, the chicks have been out in it and they can go through the openings, but the older ones cannot, the chicks been going out through it to the hens side. Some of the bigger one dont bother with them, and others chase them back to the other side. I guess that's a good start.
In this picture you can see one of the older hens got through the side of the fence in with the little ones, never bothered them.
I repaired that part of the fence

 

[junkman56]

I took down the corral and ran a fence the length of the run, I also put panic doors in the fence, today I let the hens out to free range, the chicks did a little exploring, then they went back to their perch in their run.
Attach are a few photos of the panic doors, some of the chicks are getting braver and ho over the the hens side

 

[junkman56]

The little one's are getting braver their making their way over to the other side more often

 

[aart]

The little one's are getting braver their making their way over to the other side more often

..and getting back to 'safety' when needed?

 

[junkman56]

..and getting back to 'safety' when needed?

Yes they figured out how to get back in, they get pecked at and chased, so far so good, I'm hoping to be able to remove the fence within a couple weeks

 

[junkman56]

Well it's only been a few days since I put the fence with panic doors down the run for the chicks. I been throwing feed around the run on both chick side and hen side, the chicks are making their way over to the hen side more often. The hens peck at them and chase them, but I haven't seen any real aggression yet.
So I will take this as everything is moving along pretty well,
I'm thinking when I take the divider down, I will still keep the temporary wall inside the chicks side of the coop where they roost up for a bit.
What do you think?

 

[aart]

I wouldn't rush it.
Are there tiny doors on the coop barrier too?

 

[junkman56]

I wouldn't rush it.
Are there tiny doors on the coop barrier too?

I put one tiny door on the screen door inside the coop, so the chicks can get to safety if they go in through the hens pop door, which they do sometimes when they get chased.

 

[aart]

I put one tiny door on the screen door inside the coop, so the chicks can get to safety if they go in through the hens pop door, which they do sometimes when they get chased.

Are they wandering on and out of the coop 'safe zone' as much as in the runs?

 

[junkman56]

They go out of the safe zone, over to the hens run, more when the hens are free ranging,