Chicks can not find coop

[sweet koko]

Today we moved the chicken coop to a different location. During the day we took the chicks there hoping they will remember.
At sundown they proceeded to go to the old location and probably got so confused that I could not even coax them with treats (which I am always able to do). We had to catch them and carry them one by one to the new location.
How long will it take for them to remember? Is there something that we should do tomorrow to help them remember?
We are so stressed as we are missing 2 that we could not find because it got dark and they would not respond to our calling. We searched all of their favorite places with no luck.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Today we moved the chicken coop to a different location. During the day we took the chicks there hoping they will remember.
At sundown they proceeded to go to the old location and probably got so confused that I could not even coax them with treats (which I am always able to do). We had to catch them and carry them one by one to the new location.
How long will it take for them to remember? Is there something that we should do tomorrow to help them remember?
We are so stressed as we are missing 2 that we could not find because it got dark and they would not respond to our calling. We searched all of their favorite places with no luck.

What sort of coop is it - is it just a building, a tractor with attached run or? The best way to "home" them to the new location is going to be to confine them to the immediate area for a few days - if it's a tractor style setup with the built-in run you can just not let them out to range, or you can construct a temporary "run" using any sort of barrier/fencing materiel you have that would keep them within a more immediate area of the coop. Another option would be to go out a bit before their normal time to go to roost and call them over to the vicinity of the coop so that you avoid the confusion that set in tonight.

 

[sweet koko]

Thank you, that is very helpful. The chicken coop is a small building so we will try the second option. I know that they will follow the treats.

 

[appps]

As well as that, try putting a light in there as well. We used to find ours all cuddled up on our door mat . I just got one of those cheap $2 solar garden lights and put it in the sun to charge during the day and then late in the afternoon would put it in their house. Once it started getting late they would follow the light to bed and then it would go flat and turn itself off during the night. After a week or so you shouldn't need it any longer.

 

[sweet koko]

what a great idea. Hope tomorrow will be a sunny day in upstate New York. Thank you.