Too cold to move chicks out?

I think I can split the existing run in half that I already have and it would be plenty for the 5 GC I have and the 10 chicks could be in the other half. Basically its a 400 square ft run. As soon as the chicks get to about 16 weeks I'll take down the devider wall... Thanks for the great idea!
 
Place the brooder in the coop. Take one side off and make an opening about 4" wide that a full size hen can not fit through. Bed it than cover it. Attach a small pen out of chicken wire and put their food and water there. They will sleep in their little chicken house and it will stay warmer than the coop. They have a play and socialization area that will work until you combine the groups. I've mixed mine this way by about 10 weeks. I leave the brooder in the coop as a type of safe house. They can run in there to get away from the hens plus most chicks will continue to sleep on the floor until they are about 16 weeks. Once they move up to the roosts at night, I take it out.
 
Okay.... Got the chicks on the run... I split the run in half... The GC didn't know how to act when the first saw the little chicks.... The just paced back and forth looking at them and squawking. They have calmed down now. The chicks love the fresh earth under their feet. Thanks for all the comments. I really do appreciate it.
 
Welcome to Backyard Chickens, sounds like your older flock and young chicks are doing okay. You got some great advice from the posters and it really is working.
 
Yes.... They are doing really well together... I like the devided run idea because it gives the hens a chance to get use to the chicks while they grow... Now I'm going to be anxious to get the devider wall down.. Even more anxious to start getting all those eggs...
 
Welcome to BYC!
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I'm glad you joined us.
 
The chicks are going on there 3rd day outside in the coop... They can't seem to get enough of it.. Was thinking about cutting a small hole big enough for the chicks to go through and join the hens if the want but small enough so they can retreat back to their half of the coop if they feel threatened and the hens can't follow. Has anyone done this with any kind of success? Wanting them to start learning the pecking order so that when I remove the devider wall they already know where they stand..
 

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