Hello! I am new to BYC as well as chickens period. I have 6 ladies that we got from TSC. I have no idea what breed they are, but I will save that for another day. Any who, my girls are a little over 8 weeks. The husband finally finished our coop and moved our girls into it 2 days ago. They seem to be much happier than they were in the brood. The only thing I'm concerned about is that they don't spend very much time in their run. They seem so content in the coop itself. Is this normal? They will go in their run for a few minutes and then back into the coop. I thought for sure they would be in the run more.
If you just recently put them in their new coop, they're probably still exploring. I'm constantly rigging little areas and runs onto my brooder. It just takes them a while to figure it out. Then they're like "Hey! We can go outside!" They'll figure it out eventually. Welcome to BYC and to the awesome world of poultry by the way. Best of luck to you!
They're fine, takes them a few days to get used to new things...that run is a big open scary place!
At least they've gone out and back in, they just feel safer in the enclosed coop.
They'll get more adventurous after awhile...and they may need encouragement to go inside to roost at night after they start spending more time in the run.
Thanks y'all! I'm sure my dog isn't helping the situation. He is new to chickens too. They seem to be getting braver. Yesterday they would run straight into their coop if they saw him. This morning they seemed to be taunting him. Hahaha, it would appear that chickens have quite the sense of humor. All of this got me thinking, their run is good old georgia red clay. Do I need to put something down or are they safe to be running around on the mud? It usually doesn't rain this much in georgia, but it doesn't seem to stop long enough for the ground to dry. It's not sloppy mud, but it is wet.
The wet and mud won't hurt them per say, tho it can cake up on their feet and get tracked into the coop and nests and eggs when they are laying....or if you have feather feet breeds it cakes up faster.
I'm having the same issue with my chickens 8 RIR that are 10 weeks old. I moved them into there coop at 6 weeks. Then at 9 weeks i gave them access to there run. Open the coop every morning at 6ish then leave them be for awhile. when i come back at 8 or 9ish i put them in the run and shut the door, the food is in the run the water is in the run as well as the grit.
now i go back out every few hours and carry then to the food and water they then eat and drink, and i feed them scratch from my hands. they are very friendly and not really afraid of people and some will follow me around the run.
then i open the coop before about an hour or two before dark. they all go inside, but don't use the roost, ( 24" off the ground 12' apart 1' & 2' diameter dowels) but then we put the on the roots they will stay tell the morning.
this is a pic of them hiding will do this all day
1. Now i have been keeping the food and water and stuff out side, should i put it all back in side? I'm afraid they aren't eating or drinking enough!! i don't want them to became malnourished or dehydrated.
2. Should i not lock them out of the coop all day? I don't want to be mean but i want them out in the nice weather, and to get over there fears.
3. Should i keep putting them on the roost's? I made the mistake not getting them roost's tell 9 or 8 weeks old. I just made small 2" tall 1" diameter roost's for my 4 week old RIRs i will not make the same mistake twice.
Any suggestions?
I just want them to be happy and healthy and safe thanks so much
not to try and highjack your thread but... I'm having the same issue with my chickens 8 RIR that are 10 weeks old. I moved them into there coop at 6 weeks. Then at 9 weeks i gave them access to there run. Open the coop every morning at 6ish then leave them be for awhile. when i come back at 8 or 9ish i put them in the run and shut the door, the food is in the run the water is in the run as well as the grit. now i go back out every few hours and carry then to the food and water they then eat and drink, and i feed them scratch from my hands. they are very friendly and not really afraid of people and some will follow me around the run. then i open the coop before about an hour or two before dark. they all go inside, but don't use the roost, ( 24" off the ground 12' apart 1' & 2' diameter dowels) but then we put the on the roots they will stay tell the morning. this is a pic of them hiding will do this all day 1. Now i have been keeping the food and water and stuff out side, should i put it all back in side? I'm afraid they aren't eating or drinking enough!! i don't want them to became malnourished or dehydrated. 2. Should i not lock the out of the coop all day? I don't want to be mean but i want the out in the nice weather, and to get over there fears. 3. Should i keep putting them on the roost's? I made the mistake not getting them roost's tell 9 or 8 weeks old. I just made small 2" tall 1" diameter roost's for my 4 week old RIRs i will not make the same mistake twice. Any suggestions? I just want them to be happy and healthy and safe thanks so much
No worries! Any and all suggestions are welcome so we can both have happy, healthy chickens! My ladies have access to the coop and the run during the day. They are still really timid about going in their run unless I'm out there. I don't get in the run with them, but rather stand outside the run. They are funny because it's almost like when they see me coming they go into the run and play, scratch, jump/run around as if they are trying to show off. I rarely see them in their run if I'm not out there though. We are on day 4 of then being in the coop/run so I'm hoping they will get a little more brave with time. I keep their food and water in the coop, but that is mostly because it is much easier for me. It also keeps it from getting nasty with all the rain we have been getting here in Georgia. I do give them the majority of their treats in their run though. I dig up a lot of worms for them as treats and I'm not sure worms in the coop would be a good idea. I had a roost in their brood, but only 4 of the 6 would roost. The roost in their coop is a bit higher and I have yet to see any of them roosting in the coop. I'm fairly certain they can get on their roost in the coop. I think they are just avoiding it while they get comfortable with their new home. Mine tend to stay cuddled as yours are in the picture. Perhaps it could be a comfort thing. I don't really know though seeing as my chickens are the first chickens I have ever even had contact with. Hopefully it's all just a matter of time sort of like children.
I just want them to be happy and healthy and safe thanks so much
