Chicks

[stacyh35]

I have 8 week old chicks that are out in their coop and totally enclosed run. My question is that will they go inside their coop at night and during bad weather without me putting them in there or do i need to keep climbing in and putting them in the coop? I'm new to having chickens. Thanks

 

[ralleia]

Mine have always automatically scurried inside if the weather is bad, and they also go inside when it starts to get dark. All I need do is close up the door for them at dusk so nothing can get in to harm them.

 

[ralleia]

Actually, I can't quite remember how the FIRST batch I've ever had acted the first time that they were in the coop. Worst case, you might have to do some "chicken-herding" at first (helps to have a second person), but they should catch on quickly.

Once you have a grown-up flock, any babies will learn from their momma how to act, and you won't be able to remember how it all started...

 

[wordgirl]

I hope you come to love it here as much as I do! Are these your first chickens ever?

You might want to watch them to make sure they go in at night, but mine (after being shut up in their coop for a couple of weeks) I think went in on their own at dusk the first night, although I don't completely remember. Probably since you have a pen, they're even more likely to just head back inside at night - did you keep them shut in at all before letting them out into the pen? I'm not sure it's totally necessary (since you have a pen) but it might help to let them know what "home" is. Mine were free-ranged, so they had some natural cover in bad weather - I'm not sure what they would have done in a pen.

Hope this helps some, and maybe others will chime in with their advice, too.