dividing a flock (chicks from broody hens)

[lawatt]

so i started off this spring with one rooster and eleven 9-10 month old girls -- four of whom went broody, each about a week apart. the result is 11 chicks, of staggered ages -- oldest is nearly 8 weeks, youngest is just past 3 weeks.

however, 23 critters is way too crowded for my original 8x12' coop/run -- so now i am hoping to separate out the chicks into their own, brand new (just built!) pen. the chicks all hang out together most of the time as a group, and the weather is fairly warm, so i think the 3 week olds will be okay -- they spend little time close to their broody mom these days, anyway.

just looking for any suggestions re: dividing an established flock into two pens, and/or any ideas for catching chicks who are still scared of this giant human? i'm hoping to wait til they're asleep after dark & then transfer them over, but open to other suggestions!

thanks!!

 

[lawatt]

brief follow-up: i just checked the coop (just before sunset here), and the two still-somewhat-attentive broodies are settled into two of the nesting boxes with their respective chicks (one has three 7-week-olds, one has two 3-week-olds), while the one 8-week old plus five 6-week olds are all snuggled together in a third nesting box. should i just move the ones without moms -- or wait & not move anyone yet?

 

[lavender pekins]

If it were me i would move the ones snuggled up without any mummys but leave the ones with mummys until they leave there mums too!
Good luck in whatever you do

 

[lavender pekins]

If it were me i would move the ones snuggled up without any mummys but leave the ones with mummys until they leave there mums too!
Good luck in whatever you do

 

[lavender pekins]

Ooops i double posted!

 

[lawatt]

thanks! it's funny that there's lots of information on-line about integrating flocks but almost none about how/when to separate them!

 

[lawatt]

and happy to report that through trickery, bribery, and just dumb luck, i managed to get the flock divided out this morning -- everyone's now in the right place! *phew*!!

 

[Whittni]

That is great to hear!