coop training w/ other hens

[PaysonBackyardChickens]

We have 4 adult hens that free range but return to boxes as needed to lay & then roost in coop at night.
We have six 4-week old chicks that will be doing coop training soon. I have never done this, so how do I do coop training without blocking nesting boxes for the adults hens?
I plan on putting a dog crate in the coop for a week for the littles, so that should be fine, not blocking anything. Once that's done, i want to keep the littles confined to the run & coop for an additional week (nesting boxes blocked off) , but that will lock the hens out of everything during the day.
if I put other nesting boxes outside the coop, will they know to use them? We lost one being egg-bound earlier this year. Any suggestions?

 

[azygous]

Hens usually lay in the mornings. Wait until the four hens have finished laying, then lock them out of the coop. Put the new chicks into the coop early in the day after the hens finished laying, and that gives them time to explore the coop and feel comfortable in it.

When night comes, put the chicks on a perch as far as possible from where the four adult chickens normally roost, then let the hens into the coop as close to dark as possible. This usually prevents bullying. No need for the dog crate. Hopefully, your coop is spacious enough that the chickens will be able to separate themselves into the two age groups.

In the morning, the adults will chase the chicks out of the coop, but don't expect them to wander far as the chicks will feel vulnerable to predators being small and inexperienced. It's advisable to have some kind of protective run for the chicks until they grow some more and feel experienced enough to free range.