chicken GPS - how long for a full reset?

[technodoll]

Last week I had to move my free-ranging flock to a new coop as their old one is condemned (red mites...).

Most of the girls lived in the old coop for 1 to 2 years and hang around there most of the time when out free-ranging - how long should I leave them locked in their new coop (and outside fenced-in run) to "reprogram" their brains to go roost there at night, instead of wandering about lost and confused, trying to access the old coop?

I cannot chase 30 birds in the semi-darkness trying to get them into the coop where they're supposed to live from now on...

The new coop is a fair bit farther from the house than the old coop is, does that make a difference or are they smart enough to figure it out?

They are miserable locked up and are crying to get out to free-range!

Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Since the old coop is mite infested are you planning on tearing it down? that will probably convince them to go to the new coop. Are you feeding them at the new coop site? Put food and water there only and feed any snacks there too. Hopefully they will get the message soon, but just look at how hard it is to move a broody from her nest to a new one.

 

[ChickenLord]

Isn't this the sort of thing that is raising all the hub-bub on the other threads about DE? Dust it down to kill the mites etc...?

Just curious, as I'm seeing roaches and I clean the coop and scratch area out all the time...

 

[technodoll]

Quote:
The old coop will be bulldozed down next spring.

it's a heritage building, we need permits and huge equipment - no money at the moment.

mites have been taken care of, the girls have been housed, fed and given treats in the new coop for a week now.

just wondering how much longer i need to keep them penned up there until i can let them loose again, with no fear that they won't return there to roost at night.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
The old coop will be bulldozed down next spring.

it's a heritage building, we need permits and huge equipment - no money at the moment.

mites have been taken care of, the girls have been housed, fed and given treats in the new coop for a week now.

just wondering how much longer i need to keep them penned up there until i can let them loose again, with no fear that they won't return there to roost at night.

If they've been there a week you might give it a try, do you have a special treat that you could lure them to the new coop if they get lost? Mine would jump a fence for mealworms.