Will my chickens get used to their new coop?

[juliamiles]

Hi all,
I am brand new to this site and to having chickens! We have 2 adults who have made our yard home recently. We aren't sure where they came from but they have lived in our backyard for 2-3 months and roost in a tree at night. We broke down and bought a coop online so they'll have somewhere warmer to roost before the weather turns cold.
I followed some forum advice and was able to lock them in today, but they don't seem very happy. They paced and looked for a way out and tonight went up the ramp, but would not enter the actual house where the roost is. There is food and water within the coop fencing as well as bedding in the house and nesting box. They seem to have just cuddled up on the ground and I'm worried they're miserable and might attract predators!
My question is will they eventually go inside the house and become comfortable? I feel so bad locking them in when they have been roaming the whole yard for a while!

 

[cavemanrich]

Here is something in the category that Blooie mentioned.. And just to clarify things, A TORCH is a term used to identify a FLASH LIGHT. Many of the English speaking peeps on the other side of the POND ( UK and affiliated) use torch rather than flashlight. If you look on Ebay, most flashlights sold from China sellers are also referred to as TORCH.

Here is a link shortcut to it..

http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-led-fence-light-4-piece-67729.html

 

[juliamiles]

Just an update for day 3: They slept on the ground again last night, but this morning I made a few arrangements with the way we had the coop set up and they both went right in and quieted down on the perch almost immediately. Of course now they are back out eating in the run, but I feel so much better that they feel comfortable inside now!

We had a feeder inside the coop and we moved it to the run so there is much more space inside and I cracked the roof with a piece of wood to let some natural light in and they went right in! We also found our first egg this morning!! (in the water dish of all places) - Maybe this will change now with them sleeping inside the coop...fingers crossed!

Thanks again everyone - this community has been so helpful already!

 

[LRH97]

Welcome to BYC! Good for you for giving two birds a safe home. Assuming no one in the area has missing chickens, all too often they are dumped off. It's happened to me a few times, mostly with unwanted roos. You're doing the right thing by locking them up in the coop. They may not seem to like it now, but they'll thank you later that you didn't leave them in the tree for an owl or other critter to enjoy for a late night snack. Keep them locked up for a week or so and maybe try sticking them on the roost in the coop a few times. With time, they'll start to see the coop as "home". It may even take some extra time with these two, given the amount of time they've spent outside.

 

[cavemanrich]

First

Take and place those chickens inside coop. In no time they will get used to the comfort of being in the enclosed shelter. Its like teaching an old dog a new trick. It can be done. Takes a little time and they will have the routine down pact on their own. Remember that just prior they were wild living in the tree.
In the morning, just open coop and let them exit at their own will. You may keep the feed inside to encourage them to enter to get some chow. Other option is to keep feed in the run area, and have some scratch or goodie treats in coop.
WISHING YOU BEST.

 

[juliamiles]

Thank you both so much!

that definitely makes me feel better! I'm not sure we could pick them up as they're very skittish when you get within a few feet. We will see how it goes today and might try that if they seem to be accepting. I'll keep you posted! Thanks again!

 

[Pork Pie]

You have some good advice. Just to add - if, after you have kept them in the coop for a few days, you could try putting a light (a torch, for example) in the coop just before dusk - it can help encourage them into the coop (you can then turn the light off, once they are in).

 

[azygous]

CT is right. The light will help.

Chickens hate change. They also refuse to go any place where they can't be sure is safe, and being able to have light to see will help in this. In their chicken brains, they think there could be scary things lurking upstairs in the coop, so they are reluctant to explore. On the other hand, they crave cover as night comes.

Given time, they will adjust to their new home.

 

[aart]

You could always put them in the coop at night, well after dark, they are much easier to catch then.
Keep your light pointed away from them as much as possible.
Wrap both hands around their wings to hold them down.
Place them in the coop and keep them there for a couple days....with feed and water of course.
Hopefully your coop is of good size for them and has adequate ventilation.

ETA: It will probably take weeks for them to settle down.

 

[Blooie]

You have some good advice. Just to add - if, after you have kept them in the coop for a few days, you could try putting a light (a torch, for example) in the coop just before dusk - it can help encourage them into the coop (you can then turn the light off, once they are in).

Um, but not a for-really torch!!

A little solar light that you can charge during the day and put into their new coop at night will do very nicely. It will run for quite a few hours and then gradually dim, so they'll have some hours of darkness, which I'm a firm believer that chickens need for deep sleep. Good luck!

And Welcome to BYC!