Putting the girls into their new hen house-HELP!

karenhenkel

Hatching
5 Years
Jul 8, 2014
9
6
9
Northwestern Connecticut
Hi. Newbie here. We have 8 girls, almost 6 weeks old. We are ready to move them from their brooder to the hen house. We have read conflicting information; everything from keeping them in there non-stop for 3 days (Urban Chicken) to 2 weeks (Chicken Chick). My question is this: They enjoy being outside in a puppy pen (we raise German Shepherds) which I move throughout the day, to give them fresh ground. Can we still put them out during the day, or do they need to be in the house exclusively? If so, for how long. I want them to go back to their house at sunset once they are old enough to be out in the (fenced) yard. If it matters, they are RIRs, BPRs, GLWs, and Welsummers. Thanks. Karen
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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I find that 2 FULL days of being locked in the coop is enough to get them to bond to the coop. This will give them the comfort and secure feeling that the coop is a safe place to be and will return to their coop each night on their own.

I have always given them field trips to the coop while they are still in the brooder helped greatly. So you might take them out for a few hours a day for a couple days and leave them in the coop. This helps not to shock them from brooder to coop...they are familiar with this new area you are leaving them in.

You can keep windows open, even the Pop door with a screen on it, but don't let them out. Make sure if it is hot outside, they don't over heat. So use fans, ice in the water, feed cool fruits or berries, etc. So you might start this new coop adventure on a cool week you know they will be ok being locked in for a couple days.
 
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When I have moved chickens to a new coop (I brood them in the coop, so they're already acclimated when I take them out of the brooder) I leave them in there for up to a week, but I also have an attached run so they can go in and out. After this time, we open the run and allow them to free range. My smallest coop is 8x8 and has plenty of windows so they have plenty of room and ventilation. It depends on the size of your coop and how many chickens you have if you can leave them locked in or not. If you have a small coop that's made just for sleeping and laying, or if it gets hot where you live and would be too hot in your coop to leave your chickens in for a few days, this is not an option for you. Then I would suggest that you just put them in every night and they will probably get into that routine on their own eventually.
 
It may not be of help now, but I strongly recommend an attached run to the coop. Sometimes chickens need to be locked up during the day, but I think they need to be outside every day.

Personally, I would just put them in the coop at night, let them out in the morning into your puppy pen close to the coop. If you can attach the pen to the coop, that would be best. Mine have always instinctively sought shelter at dark. Not sure what you used as a brooder, but if you can place that in the coop, on the side, that might help too.

I would be very very leery of locking up animals in a coop this time of year, if it gets very hot.

Mrs K
 
Keeping them shut in the coop full time for acclimation to going to roost at night needs to be tempered with common sense in the heat of the summer. The decision to do so is dependent on individual weather patterns and climate. IF it gets warmer than you'd be comfortable with inside the coop, I'd recommend letting them out during the day so they can find a shady spot and hunker down in the cool grass. You can always do the round up, preferably by luring them into the coop with treats, towards the end of the day. A couple of days of this, and they'll march themselves to bed on their own.

Strongly agree with Mrs K. A run is essential and will be greatly appreciated to keep a flock safe and happy. It doesn't need to be used all the time, but it will be there when you need it... especially for predator protection, and to train pullets to lay in the nest.
 
Thanks, Everyone. We DO have an attached run, which should be finished today. The hen house is in the shade, with several windows, doors and good ventilation. I like the idea of letting them visit for a few hours each day before permanently putting them in. I also though 2 weeks was a bit extreme. I crate and carry them into their brooder each evening now, so I can certainly let them into their run and put them inside until they get the drill themselves. Although it is a lovely space, I hate the idea of them not being out at all. If they don't adapt properly, I can then keep them in for a few days.
And yes, I HAVE seen the interior of a hen house with hens living in it. I know it will not look like this for long.
Thank you so much for the responses. This blog is a great resource.
 
That is beautiful!

I just need to make sure that my dear wife does not see this picture, or I will really have my work cut out for me!
 
WOW ......WOW

Well with that much space and a run, I would just put them in, lock them in the coup at night, let them out in the run in the day, leaving the door open so they can go in or out as they wish...... there really is nothing to worry about with that set up.

WOW
 
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