chicken poops!

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3chickenheads

3chickenheads

In the Brooder
Apr 26, 2015
7
1
11
Coldwater, Ontario, Canada
Hello...we are new at this whole chicken coop business! We (I) have done ALOT of reading/researching chickens! We have purchased 4 laying chickens from our local farmer. We have built a chicken coop with a ladder going down and out in an enclosed area. How long (roughly) until the chickens are brave enough to explore their outside world? My kids will carry them out of the coop and put them in the run but the chickens are still "chicken poops" and will not leave on their own. I have tried coaxing them down the ramp. I have put out carrot peels and lettuce too! Any other ideas? Thanks :)
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Give them time to adjust. Don't force them out of the coop. They will come out when ready. Chickens are nervous creatures and know there are things out there that can eat them. When they feel comfortable they will come out. Make sure there are no barking dogs in their area, not too much kid traffic or anything that might make them nervous.

Good luck with your new flock! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask around the forums. Welcome to our flock!
 
Welcome to Backyard chickens. All you really need is one chick that gets brave enough to come out, the others will follow. Have you tried putting treats on the ramp to encourage them? It's normal for chickens to be 'chicken'. That's where the term comes from.
 
Thanks for the welcome! Yes so far I have put lettuce; carrot peels and even brocoli on the ramp! This is my daughters job...lol....where is she? Fishing with her dad! I want the chickens down so I can go into the coop to refresh water and food....one somehow made its way out so I found me, myself and I chasing a chicken! It must have been a sight! A chicken being chased by a bigger chicken! Lol....I did get her back into the run!
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Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! In case you haven't seen it, there is a nice chicken treat chart in the Learning Center https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens X3, it will take them awhile to get used to their new world, a week or so probably. They also probably are not used to eating anything but their feed, and it takes chickens awhile to get used to eating new food, you can try putting some of the treats mixed in with their regular food so they get used to eating them, and then scatter it on the ramp, Scratch, mealworms etc are popular.
 
Yeah!!!
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My girls are feeling at home now! For the last 2 days when I wake up at 6:30 I see all 4 girls outside in their run! I am so happy that everyone seems happy! At least 1-2 eggs everyday. And they are not nervous around my kids or dogs!!!! I love how they put themselves up to bed every night by 7:50pm (ish). Now if only the chickens would teach my kids to do the same..lol! Thank you to all that offered help! I will be seeking more info again soon I am sure! CHEERS!!
 

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