Bringing Home Chickens For The First Time

[jonesy4000]

Hello, all. We're almost ready to start our very first flock. The coop and run should be finished this weekend. Food, bedding, supplies, etc. will be purchased. All that will be left are the chickens. Our plan is to get a group of laying hens, all 6-12 months, so that we can put them directly into the coop without having to deal with raising chicks. This may seem elementary, but I'm looking for any advice for introducing hens to their new home for the first time. Basic stuff. Do I bring them in one at a time? All together? Should they go into the coop first, or the run? Do I need to keep them locked in the coop for a period of time before letting them out? Is it best to hang out with them for a while, or leave them be to explore on their own. Really basic stuff.

For reference, the coop is 8'x9'. They'll have about 1,500 sf of fenced in, uncovered space for "free ranging." That square footage will double in the winter when we put the garden away and can open that up for the chickens. I can easily make a temporary covered run to keep them contained for a while before introducing the full yard if that's helpful.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Put them in the coop first and leave them in for several days. They are creatures of habit and once they are accustomed to sleeping in the coop, they'll go in at dusk every night without intervention.
How many chickens will be using that space? Bantams or LF?
Will they already be flockmates (friends) or will they be from different sources?

 

[jonesy4000]

Put them in the coop first and leave them in for several days. They are creatures of habit and once they are accustomed to sleeping in the coop, they'll go in at dusk every night without intervention.

That makes sense. Thanks. Once I do let them out, do you think it's necessary to use the smaller run, or can I just let them go free in the big yard? I'm a little bit nervous about them being too ambitious and flying over the fence before they're used to it being "home."

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'd leave them in the smaller run for an additional day or two so they can familiarize themselves to the surroundings so they find their way back to the coop at night.

 

[jonesy4000]

Roger that. Is it best to try and spend a lot of time with them right off the bat, or should we mostly leave them alone until they're comfortable with us? Obviously we'll feed, water, clean, etc.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Depends on whether you want lap pets or livestock.

 

[jonesy4000]

Depends on whether you want lap pets or livestock.

Livestock. Though, it would be nice if they were friendly to us. I mean, we'll probably give them names, but I don't plan on holding a funeral if one of them dies.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I raise an extremely wary aloof breed of chicken. I don't handle them when young and they run like mad when I approach for their first year of life. Once they realize I bring food and am not going to eat them (yet) they are much more calm.
Some people I've sold chicks to have handled them as chicks and they can be handled as adults.

 

[Ridgerunner]

All sound advice from Canoe. Keep them locked in the coop until they learn to lay in the nests. That should just be a few days. That way they will also learn to sleep there and return around dark to the coop. That takes care of two potential problems.

You will not help them adjust by hanging out with them. It will not hurt them if you do but it won't help either. Checking on them occasionally the first couple of days is a good idea, you never know what they may find to get into.

I understand livestock but one good thing to do is teach them to come when called. That involves food. Put some food they like in a can and rattle it as you toss it to them. Maybe chant something like "Here, chicky chick" as they eat. Before long they will come running whenever you call or rattle that can. Herding chickens is not as bad as herding cats but it takes patience. Being able to get them in the coop or smaller run can be really helpful at times.

 

[jonesy4000]

All good advice. Are the chances pretty good that they'll find roosting bars, nesting boxes, etc. on their own, or will we need to give them a hand with that the way you introduce kittens to a litter box?