Is this enough?

Hubby built a walk in run (8 x 12) which we put a plastic dog house in for our girls. They spend the mornings in it, having access to the yard (fenced) whenever I'm home. We live in Hilo, HI so not having as many predators as in the Mainland. We do have our rainy times, therefore we have the the back & one side wrapped with shade cloth, the front hung a shower curtain on rod and plan on hanging more shower curtains if need be. The chickens don't sleep out there, preferring the "coop" in the patio where they were raised. My question - Would making them sleep in the "run" at night be ok, or let them continue in the coop?

As creatures of habit. They prefer to sleep where they've always slept. To change their habit, you have to force them to sleep somewhere else for several nights. It may take a week or two before they all take to it.

Being in Hilo, they don't need as much weather protection as you're offering. I think you can lose the plastic. A roof over the run is nice to eliminate mud but the chickens don't need rain protection in that weather. They are after all, outdoor animals.

Rain blows in from the sides, not just from the top. Blocking rain from the predominant direction may be a good thing.

How inconvenient is it to you for them to keep sleeping as they are? Chickens don’t care, people do. How do you move them to that run in the morning? Would it be nice for you if they woke up in there? Are they making a mess on the patio that you would rather do without?

I don’t know how old yours are or if they are laying yet. You did not mention where the nests are or what your plans are for those. Often they will lay pretty early in the morning, to me it would be good to have the nests where they sleep.

Personally I’d put in a roost and nests in that run, lock them out of the coop on the patio and physically move them to the run every night until they start going in here on their own. The first few nights they will probably try to go in the old coop at night but since it’s locked they will settle down to sleep in that immediate area. They are pretty easy to catch after dark as long as that area is not lit up very much. But if you are OK with the way it’s working out, you can continue as you are. We all manage them differently.

Ridgerunner said:

Rain blows in from the sides, not just from the top. Blocking rain from the predominant direction may be a good thing.

How inconvenient is it to you for them to keep sleeping as they are? Chickens don’t care, people do. How do you move them to that run in the morning? Would it be nice for you if they woke up in there? Are they making a mess on the patio that you would rather do without?

I don’t know how old yours are or if they are laying yet. You did not mention where the nests are or what your plans are for those. Often they will lay pretty early in the morning, to me it would be good to have the nests where they sleep.

Personally I’d put in a roost and nests in that run, lock them out of the coop on the patio and physically move them to the run every night until they start going in here on their own. The first few nights they will probably try to go in the old coop at night but since it’s locked they will settle down to sleep in that immediate area. They are pretty easy to catch after dark as long as that area is not lit up very much. But if you are OK with the way it’s working out, you can continue as you are. We all manage them differently.

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Yup that rain does blow, therefore the shower curtain in the front (weather side) that I pull back & will close when it rains. The sides, when we have our rain storms, I will be hanging more shower curtains on the sides that need it but again it will be removable.

I'd prefer them sleeping in the coop that's in the patio, no problem for me. In the morning (7:30) I just let them out & walk towards the Run, they follow me & I feed them in there. They're usually in there all morning, they're staying in the back close to the Run instead of hanging out in the patio now. Glad for that cause, less poop to pick up in the afternoons. But in the evenings they come back to the patio/coop.

They're 15wks, in the Run I'm hoping they'll use the dog house (shavings) as a nesting place & in the coop I have shavings on one side of it.

I was just thinking it would be easier for Hubby when I make my Grandma visits (3wks in the summer) if they slept in the Run. It would be easier on him on days he goes fishing. They could spend the day in the Run & if he's late coming home they'd be ok sleeping in there. He could let them out the next day to grub. We just hate seeing them "cooped up" all day but the purpose of the bigger run is the space.

They're Pets with Benefits, more pets

ChickenCanoe said:

As creatures of habit. They prefer to sleep where they've always slept. To change their habit, you have to force them to sleep somewhere else for several nights. It may take a week or two before they all take to it.

Being in Hilo, they don't need as much weather protection as you're offering. I think you can lose the plastic. A roof over the run is nice to eliminate mud but the chickens don't need rain protection in that weather. They are after all, outdoor animals.

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It was thinking that....If I kept them in the Run over night for a week or so, they'd give up the coop in the patio. It's just me liking them "close" at night. Reason for the Run is when I'm on my Grandma trip (3wks in summer) it's easier for Hubby if they're in the Run at nights, he won't have to let them out of the coop & move them to the Run & getting home to let them out of the Run to go in the coop.

It's me, they're Pets with Benefits & I tend to spoil. Thank you for your reassurance I'm on the right track.