Bringing home first birds

[Brantford]

Hello,

Bringing home 2 hens tonight to start my flock. I have a converted shed with a secure 12x6 run. The gens in getting are a year old and have been free ranging. I have read I need to lock them in the coop for a few days so the settle in. Do I lock them in the actual coop with the door to the run closed, or do I let them use the coop and run. Eventually I will let them play in the yard. Thanks for you input.
M

 

[sourland]

Good luck with your new birds. Given the weather right now I would allow them access to the run as well as the coop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't now where you are located or how hot it is, also not sure how big that shed is. It's probably big enough for two hens but the real concern is heat. Where are you feeding and watering them, in the coop or in the run?

There are a few things to consider but you could probably do both. I'd do both run and coop but you might need to lock them in the coop after dark so they get used to sleeping inside.

The idea of locking them up for a few days is that they get used to going to the coop at night to sleep. As a minimum I'd keep them locked up until they sleep inside the coop on their own. If they are laying they should make a nest they will return to somewhere inside the coop and run, hopefully in the nest. Give them a few days to get into that habit so you don't have to hunt for a hidden nest. If one makes a nest in the run instead of in the coop, lock them in the coop for a few days if you can.

You should be able to accomplish all this by locking them in the coop or coop/run for a week. It should take less.

 

[townchicks]

I don't now where you are located or how hot it is, also not sure how big that shed is. It's probably big enough for two hens but the real concern is heat. Where are you feeding and watering them, in the coop or in the run?

There are a few things to consider but you could probably do both. I'd do both run and coop but you might need to lock them in the coop after dark so they get used to sleeping inside.

The idea of locking them up for a few days is that they get used to going to the coop at night to sleep. As a minimum I'd keep them locked up until they sleep inside the coop on their own. If they are laying they should make a nest they will return to somewhere inside the coop and run, hopefully in the nest. Give them a few days to get into that habit so you don't have to hunt for a hidden nest. If one makes a nest in the run instead of in the coop, lock them in the coop for a few days if you can.

You should be able to accomplish all this by locking them in the coop or coop/run for a week. It should take less.

X2
If they don't return to the coop to sleep at first, you can try leaving them in there for 1/2 day, then letting them out into the run for the hottest part of the day. Be sure they have water, though, if you do that.

 

[snow5164]

Are you planning on getting more? Combining birds is not an easy process I’d make sure to get more next time,

I know people have success with 2-3 here and there but I find sometimes personality’s just don’t mesh and you have stressed birds ...

Free ranging helps from what I’ve heard

 

[N F C]

Congrats on starting your flock! What breeds are you getting?

 

[Chickens4Life101]

Congrats on the new flock!! You should let them use the coop and run. Make sure to show them the nesting boxes!! You can put a normal egg in a box or even a golf ball to represent where they are supposed to lay. Also what breeds are they??

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to BYC!
Have a FUNomenal time with your new flock!

 

[Brantford]

So I will be getting 2 Australorps, barred rock and a Rir. All are coming from the same flock that someone is selling off. I have 5x8 outside run, and inside the shed I have 50ish sqf as well. I will be letting them play in the yard almost daily for a few hours so I'm sure there is lots of space. I've been wanting to do this since I was a kid. I live in a very new sub division so I will want my girls to be as quiet as possible. Next spring i will try raising my own chicks.

 

[Brantford]

Congrats on the new flock!! You should let them use the coop and run. Make sure to show them the nesting boxes!! You can put a normal egg in a box or even a golf ball to represent where they are supposed to lay. Also what breeds are they??

By using a real egg to show them my nesting boxes should I hard boil the egg so it doesn't crack and spoil as easily?