Coop Addition Question

[Jake1297]

I added a 6'x8' addition to the coop. In there I moved about 90% of all the chicken roosts and a few of the nesting boxes. Last night was the first night and no chickens used the new addition. They all crammed onto what little roost there was left in the old part, some went up into the hay loft. My question is: Will they eventually use the new room? I presently have 12 chickens and 5 guineas.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

wait til they are sleeping, then gently move them to the roost in the new area. You will need to do this for about a week. Then they will get used to the new space and use it.

I am still working at getting my girls to sleep outside of the nesting room in my coop. I moved their roosts out of it about a week ago. They are finally getting the idea that when I come to do lock-down for the night, they are to go out to the roosts, but it is still an every night ritual to tell em to go.

 

[patandchickens]

Yup, you just have to manually-relocate them every evening after dark for a few days or week til they start doing it themselves. Chickens are creatures of habit, also don't like new things, also are not real bright in a human sense (although they are perfectly well smart enough at chickeny things)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Jake1297]

These answers bring me to another question: Moving them after dark, do I do this in the dark? Or can I turn on the coop light? Thanks for all your help.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

You can turn on the light...but it is best to only have the light in the section you are wanting them in.

 

[NanaLantana]

Yup, you've got to 'train' your chickens! Right now, they're 'trained' to sleep in the old coop. It takes a while to re-train them, but they'll learn.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
IMO it works best wearing a headlamp; but, whatever works for you. If you have few enough chickens to move you can do it with the light on, but if there are lots or they wake up especially perky LOL then it might not work so well.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat