Adult hens moving locations.

[GeorgiaBoy88]

So I just built my first coop with a surrounding chainlink fence as a run, I have a friend who I obtained 6 mature golden comets from. How long do I need to keep them in the coop and let them learn that it's their new home before letting them out into the run and how long after letting them out into the run could I let them free range the property?

 

[hysop]

I would only keep em in the coop for a max of 3 days and then let em be in the run for like a week and they’ll know to come back.

That’s what I would do and what I’ve done in the past, not sure if there’s an exact science.

ETA: if they’re already adults and if the run is covered and they can’t get out then I would just leave them in the coop for one day and then let them out in the run.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would put them in the coop at dark and let them out into the run in the morning, I would worry more about over heating this time of year.

Mrs K

 

[Alaskan]

Before you let them free range... teach them to come when called.

It will save you so much grief!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know what your coop or run look like or their size, so I'll be generic. You can approach it two ways assuming the coop facilities are big enough and ventilation adequate.

You can leave them locked in the coop only for a week or so to try to teach them that is a good place to sleep. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes it doesn't. I think what the coop looks like plays into that. If they go back into the coop to sleep at night for three or four nights consecutively after you let them into the run section, good. I'd feel safe letting them out to free range. If they don't go back in the coop to sleep on their own, after dark lock them in the coop to sleep. Do that every night until they get the message. Then after you are comfortable they will put themselves to sleep in the coop every night let them free range.

The other option is to just put them in the coop and run both to start with. See where they put themselves to bed. If it is consistently in the coop, good. If not, move them in every night after dark until they get the message. Then proceed as above.