Bringing home Pullets on day 1...what to do?

[EastCoastChickens]

Hey all!
We're very excited that we ordered our first chickens! We will have 4 pullets arriving in June! 1 Buff Orpington, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 1 Black Australorp, they will be 12 weeks old when we get them. I'm reading a lot of different things about leaving them in the coop when they arrive to their new home. Some people say 24 hrs others say 3 days and I've read others that say 1 week!!! We have a 4x6 coop with a 12x6 run outside of it. This will be their primary home on a daily basis. After a few months of them being comfortable around us and their home we would like them to roam freely on the property which has a fenced in yard (4ft tall), we also have about 1/3 acre of land they can roam on if they escape the fenced yard. However I want to ensure for their safety that they understand where the coop is and how to get back to it safely. What are your recommendations for leaving them in the coop when they first arrive home. 1 day? 3 days? 1 Week? I'm assuming it will be pretty messy if they are only allowed access to the coop for the first couple days. Anywhoo, just wanted some recommendations. Thanks folks!

 

[Tre3hugger]

Personally, I just placed my ten birds(9 pullets 1 rooster) in the coop when I brought them home, but left the door open. Before long they were exploring their fenced in run. That first night, about half of them went into the coop at sundown. I had to catch the other half and show them the coop again(not as hard as it sounds with 1 helper in an enclosed area). After that they go home into the coop every night like clockwork. I do not necessarily think locking them up for any time is necessary. This seems to be more of a thing when trying to train guinea hens. It may just take them literally one night to get with the program. Good luck! hope this helped.

 

[sealer39]

It depends on your coop size. What I do is put them in the coop where their food and water is, then let them hang out for a day or two so they learn where to roost and get water/food. Then I let them out about a half hour before sunset. They don’t get far before they are wanting to go back to the roost and they usually find their way back fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

It sounds like you have one of those tiny coops with a small run around it, probably elevated. So, yes, it could be hard to leave them locked in the coop section only for long. I'm not as worried about them making a mess, they are going to poop wherever they are anyway. It's more of a behavioral thing plus you need room to put food and water. When you first put them into their own flock, even at 12 weeks, they'll work out their new pecking order. That may go so smoothly you don't even notice or it could get a little violent. In either case it's best to give them a little more room.

What I'd suggest in your case is to put them in the coop/run combo when you first get them. Then check up on them at dark. If they go into the coop section to sleep, fine. If they settle down to sleep in the run, lock them into the coop section. Do that consistently every night until they learn to go in on their own. I have to do that regularly when I move mine from the brooder to the grow-out coop. Sometimes they catch on after one time, Occasionally it takes three weeks.

After they consistently go into the coop section at night, then you can start letting them out of the coop/run. At dusk they will go back to their sleeping area, the coop. Not before dusk, but at dusk. You need to be out there then to check on them, at least the first few times. Their drive to get back to that safe sleeping area is really strong, but they have no concept of gate. I've had chickens get trapped behind a fence, desperately trying to get to that coop. They do not realize that the gate they have been using all day to go in and out is still open. You may have to guide them to that gate a time or two. They do learn.

There may be times you want to lock them up on the coop/run before dark after you let them out. It can be a good idea to train them to come when you call. This involves food. If yo select a certain bucket or container to always carry their food or special treats, rattle the food in that bucket and call out something like "Here, chicky, chicky". Or make up your own call. Just rattling the bucket will probably be enough as long as they can hear it. It should not take them long to come running.

 

[EastCoastChickens]

Personally, I just placed my ten birds(9 pullets 1 rooster) in the coop when I brought them home, but left the door open. Before long they were exploring their fenced in run. That first night, about half of them went into the coop at sundown. I had to catch the other half and show them the coop again(not as hard as it sounds with 1 helper in an enclosed area). After that they go home into the coop every night like clockwork. I do not necessarily think locking them up for any time is necessary. This seems to be more of a thing when trying to train guinea hens. It may just take them literally one night to get with the program. Good luck! hope this helped.

Sounds promising! Thanks for the advice!

 

[EastCoastChickens]

It depends on your coop size. What I do is put them in the coop where their food and water is, then let them hang out for a day or two so they learn where to roost and get water/food. Then I let them out about a half hour before sunset. They don’t get far before they are wanting to go back to the roost and they usually find their way back fine.

Thanks! Sounds good!

 

[EastCoastChickens]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

It sounds like you have one of those tiny coops with a small run around it, probably elevated. So, yes, it could be hard to leave them locked in the coop section only for long. I'm not as worried about them making a mess, they are going to poop wherever they are anyway. It's more of a behavioral thing plus you need room to put food and water. When you first put them into their own flock, even at 12 weeks, they'll work out their new pecking order. That may go so smoothly you don't even notice or it could get a little violent. In either case it's best to give them a little more room.

What I'd suggest in your case is to put them in the coop/run combo when you first get them. Then check up on them at dark. If they go into the coop section to sleep, fine. If they settle down to sleep in the run, lock them into the coop section. Do that consistently every night until they learn to go in on their own. I have to do that regularly when I move mine from the brooder to the grow-out coop. Sometimes they catch on after one time, Occasionally it takes three weeks.

After they consistently go into the coop section at night, then you can start letting them out of the coop/run. At dusk they will go back to their sleeping area, the coop. Not before dusk, but at dusk. You need to be out there then to check on them, at least the first few times. Their drive to get back to that safe sleeping area is really strong, but they have no concept of gate. I've had chickens get trapped behind a fence, desperately trying to get to that coop. They do not realize that the gate they have been using all day to go in and out is still open. You may have to guide them to that gate a time or two. They do learn.

There may be times you want to lock them up on the coop/run before dark after you let them out. It can be a good idea to train them to come when you call. This involves food. If yo select a certain bucket or container to always carry their food or special treats, rattle the food in that bucket and call out something like "Here, chicky, chicky". Or make up your own call. Just rattling the bucket will probably be enough as long as they can hear it. It should not take them long to come running.

Wow, thank you so much. Yes the coop is smaller. I did build it, it's 4'x6' and the run is going to be enclosed in hardware cloth and it will be 12'x6'. I do agree that 4 birds in there for a couple days would be very confined. I'll probably leave them in there the first day. We have a 2 hour drive to pick them up so we won't get them here until the afternoon sometime anyway. Then I think I'll let them out the following morning to discover their new play area.
I'm hoping they will all get along. LOL....
I've attached a photo of the coop build so far....its not near done yet, still have to build the enclosure and gates.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Nice build

 

[EastCoastChickens]

Nice build

Thanks! Its coming along. First time building but its been fun!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Eh I lock them in for a few days but I've always had space enough to allow for that. Your coop isn't too bad sizewise for number of birds so it's up to you. I'd probably lock them in 2 days (they won't make that much of a mess in 2 days) because I'd want to minimize having to chase them down, but you certainly can try having run access open if that feels better to you.