New chicks and new coop

[Lorihinohio]

I have a couple issues. I have two girls who I’ve moved into the new bigger coop and they will not roost. They’ve gotten up to the nesting boxes and laid eggs but huddle in the corner at night. Do I need to worry about this or will they figure it out?

I’ve also introduced 6 new 8 week old chicks who are in the coop in an open doored dog kennel who won’t leave their space. Do I just take the kennel away and let them figure it out? I am so new to this and I am a little freaked out how the “lead” chicken (one of my older girls) is pretty aggressive with the chicks.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Please post some pics of inside your coop, showing roosts nests and kennel.
How long have big birds been in coop..and when were chicks put in there?
It's often best to leave kennel closed up for a week or so before allowing physical contact.

Here some......
Integration Basics:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.