6 week old chickens...

[MrsHall28]

My husband and I purchased two chickens that are approximately 6 weeks old. At this age what should I expect as far a behavior goes?? Do they still roost at night? Hey are checking their new place out right now, but haven't seemed to have found the coop where they will be sleeping and eventually laying eggs. Should I just carry then and put them in there or will they find it on their own?

 

[Chicks Galore3]

If they are extremely flighty, don't worry. Chicks around this age, even those who are extremely tame, go through a stage where they freak out at every little thing. They will settle down, though. Yes - roosting is how chickens sleep. I would keep them in the coop for a week or two - that way they will know, "Hey this is home! We should sleep here and lay here!" And will come back to it every night.

 

[tcstoehr]

I would have started by putting them in the coop for a few days locked in. That way they get the idea that this is their home base and when there's anything scary around, that's where to go. I would go ahead and stick them in there if they're OK with being handled. If any are not OK with being handled, leave them alone and put in the ones you can. The others will learn by observation as they see there flock-mates coming and going in the coop.
After their introduction to the coop, you can only let them wander as they please. Hopefully, they will seek out the coop at night. I put my chicks from the brooder into the coop at 5 weeks old. They were in the coop for a week before being let out. They dutifully return to the coop each night before the auto-door closes at dusk.

 

[MrsHall28]

Ok. The coop we has the area where they sleep and lay eggs. This area can be locked at night to keep them safe. In the morning we can open it and let them walk around just a bit in the actual run part of the coop. This is where their food and water is. Since it is getting late we put them in the locked coop to sleep. This area is really small, but should I still put a little water or something in their for them? I didn't see them drink a lot of water, but we only purchased them a few hours ago, so I'm guessing they had plenty of water over where they are from...

 

[tcstoehr]

As I understand it, once they come in at night, they need nothing but sleep and protection from predators until morning. In the morning, they are generally ready to eat and drink and exercise. Which is certainly motivation to get outside in your case.
Some people (like me) keep food and water in the coop, but it isn't so that the chickens can have it during the night. There are other reasons to keep food/water in the coop, and other reasons not to.

 

[MrsHall28]

Another question:

Do I leave a feeder full of food in there 24/7? When it's in there all they do is eat! I'm afraid they are over eating.

 

[tcstoehr]

Yes, leave the food there 24/7. Let them eat as much as they like. They require no feed restriction, unlike dogs for example. A problem might be that they spill lots of food around and make a big rotting mess inside the coop. There are various low-cost do-it-yourself feeders that mitigate this problem.

 

[rc4u]

mine at 6 weeks have been in coop 3 days and only two roost..the rest gather in a spot and huddle for warmth as its been 34 degrees last few nites...after its warmer im sure they will roost also..jeff