6 week olds trained to go to coop at dusk!

[jenfarsh]

I wish I could help you with this but I do not have experience with introducing new birds to established flocks. You may need to search it or maybe someone here will help with this question! Best of luck!

Mine are seven weeks old, and have been living in the coop outside for about two weeks... Before that I took them outside and brought them back in for a week (so a total of three weeks outside) boy they sure got big and feather out way more once they stayed out overnight in thier coop my question is how old should they be before I let them free range with the older birds?

 

[Den in Penn]

Mine are seven weeks old, and have been living in the coop outside for about two weeks... Before that I took them outside and brought them back in for a week (so a total of three weeks outside) boy they sure got big and feather out way more once they stayed out overnight in thier coop my question is how old should they be before I let them free range with the older birds?

You can free range them together now if you watch them. At that age they should be able to get away from the older chickens, if they have the room. They may get along fine or not. That said. The first time I generally let them range together, is when they are around ten weeks, the size difference is less.

 

[honestgilly]

Well I guess I have the same problem everyone else has. My silkies are 4 months old I just put them out in coop , one day they stayed in there all night and day!! The next day I pushed them out and they never went back in had to round them up at night , so they still haven't gone up the ramp and in on there own ,, do I really have to train them ??

 

[honestgilly]

 

[honestgilly]

I have since made bridge less steep !!

 

[SlipsWife]

Mine won't leave the coop!

They are almost 5 weeks old and have been in the coop for over 2 weeks. We started out just moving their brooder in the coop for a few nights with the heat lamp. Then we removed it but left the heat lamp. We'd go in at night and have to get them out of a corner and put them under the light. They would stay there until the next morning. I would then turn on a regular light for them during the day, repeat at night. After a couple of days of this we opened the run. They only go out into the run if we herd them out or physically remove them and first chance they are right back in! We've bribed them with treats but once they stop coming they are gone! They won't leave the coop to play in the yard unless we pick them up and take them to the other side. If we leave them to close they run right back in. They love it when they are out and about but for some reason have to be made to do it! I guess I know where the term 'Stop acting like a chicken' came from!

 

[jenfarsh]

Wow you had your chickens inside for 4 months? They may just be trying to adjust to their new scary world. Remember they are prey and quite defenseless, but I'm sure they will acclimate and venture out. Does your ramp have some sort of traction on it? Very cute coop

Well I guess I have the same problem everyone else has. My silkies are 4 months old I just put them out in coop , one day they stayed in there all night and day!! The next day I pushed them out and they never went back in had to round them up at night , so they still haven't gone up the ramp and in on there own ,, do I really have to train them ??

 

[jenfarsh]

When I first opened the pop door, they were terrified...then only one or two would venture out....week later more came to the door but would only stand at it and look. It took a bit of time to get them interested in outdoors. I'm convinced that if they had adults to follow, they would have gone out earlier.
I would be chicken too if everything out of my house wanted to eat me!!

Mine won't leave the coop!

They are almost 5 weeks old and have been in the coop for over 2 weeks. We started out just moving their brooder in the coop for a few nights with the heat lamp. Then we removed it but left the heat lamp. We'd go in at night and have to get them out of a corner and put them under the light. They would stay there until the next morning. I would then turn on a regular light for them during the day, repeat at night. After a couple of days of this we opened the run. They only go out into the run if we herd them out or physically remove them and first chance they are right back in! We've bribed them with treats but once they stop coming they are gone! They won't leave the coop to play in the yard unless we pick them up and take them to the other side. If we leave them to close they run right back in. They love it when they are out and about but for some reason have to be made to do it! I guess I know where the term 'Stop acting like a chicken' came from!

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I read an amazing book by Harvey Ussery... He is a brilliant flockster. He never has his chicks inside the house and actually he says they are healthier outside! I had mine in the living room for 2 weeks,purely for pleasure! And they were so much happier outside...it got in the 20's at night! They feathered out faster and roosted just fine... We baby them too much I think. Put them out! Make sure the lamp is a comfortable height and enjoy dust free living!

2X

 

[NestingHillsSC]

question may b silly but i have to ask im told to feed my chicks
chick start and grow for 16 weeks when they start layin to switch to layer
pellets question is do i continue to fill their feed trough full and let them
eat as much as they want or is there a age limit i need to start cutting back
on their feeding

I raise a lot of chicks every year. There feeder is always full from chick till I sell or eat them. Once with older girls I give them oyster shells in a separate feeder. Let them eat what they need.