Chickens wont go into my hard working new coop!

[kimh]

I have 4 hens about 3 months old. They have a nice 8' x 8' run and a large fancy dog house where they roost - but its not big enough for all 4 of them - although they don't seem to mind and I cant fit a nesting box inside it either and we are almost to that time. However, I just purchased a playhouse at Lowes so that they had a bigger coop and I could move thier food in door so it does not get wet when it rains. The problem is -they refuse to go inside the new coop -- even to eat! I don't care if they still want to roost in their old coop but they need to eat! I thought about putting the food back outside and then moving it closer and closer to the coop until they eventually go inside. Any other ideas?

 

[MissPrissy]

They have to be taught the new place is home. In normal climate temps I would advise lock them in a few days to a week to train them. If you are suffering with the heat with the rest of us this isn't such a good idea right now. You can go out every evening and put them inside and lock them in until morning. They won't instinctively seek a new shelter. You have to teach them just about everything new you want them to do. After about a week or so they will go in like clockwork.

 

[kimh]

Thanks -- Its way too hot to do anything right now so I'll wait -- I guess food will have to go outside again untiil then.

Kim