chicks don't like treats and won't leave coop for run - ever!

[momofpjem]

I am brand new to this forum and to raising chickens. I hope to find some answers from all of you to some things that are perplexing me. My 3 month old chickens (8 of them) have been happily living in their coop for a month now. They couldn't go out in their run as we still needed to finish the chicken wire around it for safety. We got it done last weekend and were so excited to let them free into their run where there were greens and bugs. But they won't leave through the open door in the floor and walk down the stairs to play in their run. We've tried showing them how by placing them on the stairs and shooing them down. We placed fresh goodies from the garden there as a treat. They don't stay out long at all and come back up the stairs into the coop. Everything I've read says they'll love to be out of their coop to play, bug hunt, and eat greens. But they don't! And the other thing. I've read so much that they will love to eat treats - garden tomatoes, lettuce, kitchen scraps like peels of cucumbers....mine don't. They don't dive for it. They are hesitant and slowly check it out only to leave most of it untouched. What do you think is going on? Any ideas or suggestions would be so helpful. I don't want them to live a boring life stuck in a coop with just laying food to eat....it should be more fun that that shouldn't it? Thanks for any replies.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

this may be considered mean, but take them out of their coop, and lock them out of it for a little bit ( ten minutes) . they wont want to go back inside for a while. you could also try putting their food outside of the coop.

 

[Ducklove334]

it will take them a few days to get the hang of things.

they've been in the coop since they were itty bitty, thats all they know, at first you'll find that a few come out,look around, go back in, stay in the rest of the day, the next day the same thing, only a few more my join them, slowly every day a few more will come out.

after a few days they'll ALL be out exploring and having a ball and they won't WANT to go back IN to the coop LOL

it just takes them time.

 

[19Dawn76]

I think it will probably just take them some time to get used to the area. It did my chickens.

 

[NatalieB]

It also helps to have older chickens to teach the babies what to do. I got a couple of older chickens (I couldnt wait for eggs!) and it has helped the babies a lot. The don't go too far away from them nor too close to get pecked! LOL

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

!!! I agree - make them go out and toss them some treats. Bread (although I know it's not good for them) always worked great for us - in small quantities of course. Just make sure you give them treats when they're in the run, not in the coop, and they'll get used to it.

 

[Big dreams]

Welcome, and I would agree with all who say take them out and they will get use to it. My chicks were scared at first, I set them out and they didn't move for awhile just stood real still. Now they love it. Have fun.

 

[wombat]

They've been in a coop most if their short lives, and "outside" is much different. They'll need some time to get used to it.

If they're not raised by a hen, they've got nobody to show them what is good to eat, and what is not. They'll take a while to try new things. Tapping the new food with your finger and saying "bok bok bok" like a hen might help them along.

It's funny to toss a new treat down, and have them all stand around in a circle and stare at it ... then one will dart in for a sample peck, jump back, and they'll all stare at it some more.