Coop to help a free run

[FaithVondras987]

My new chicken was raised as a free run, I want to help her feel more comfy in the coop. So far I have the expansion and I added the bucket she is on. But I think she needs something else. I plan on letting her roam after about 3-4 months, but I need to know she will return to the coop at night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is this your only chicken? What does the bucket do? There's not enough room if you're intending for her to stand on top of it like that. Chickens will return to the coop at night once they're homed to it, but they really need a flock both for company and safety.

 

[FaithVondras987]

The bucket has nesting material in it, it’s not necessarily for her to get on top of she just likes it on top. We plan on getting her a friend. I read that free roam take longer to adjust to the coop that cooped up chickens.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

The bucket has nesting material in it, it’s not necessarily for her to get on top of she just likes it on top. We plan on getting her a friend. I read that free roam take longer to adjust to the coop that cooped up chickens.

I would buy a buddy for her, you can check on Craigslist and maybe even find one for free. I think a rooster might even work, that's what I have currently, just a rooster and a hen together....... but then again I don't think it's advisable to do so, but it works for me.

 

[FaithVondras987]

I would buy a buddy for her, you can check on Craigslist and maybe even find one for free. I think a rooster might even work, that's what I have currently, just a rooster and a hen together....... but then again I don't think it's advisable to do so, but it works for me.

Sadly we can not have roosters where we live, we had 2 but we had to trade them for the pullet we have now

 

[Susan Dye]

Are you going to leave the coop on the driveway or move it to the yard? She might be more comfortable on grass since she used to be free range. And definitely get her a companion. Is it necessary to put the nesting material in the bucket? How about putting it in the coop to give her and a companion more room in the run. They seem to like a bit of privacy when laying eggs.

 

[FaithVondras987]

That was a picture of the coop around spring, we moved it to the side of the house in the grass. The bucket was to help her feel comfy, she wouldn’t eat much after I got her. After I put the bucket in there she started eating and drinking. She does have nesting boxes in the coop. It comes with 3 slots for nesting.

 

[Susan Dye]

Oh good, sounds like you have everything under control

 

[rosemarythyme]

Definitely get her at least one chicken buddy. It doesn't take that long to home a chicken to a coop, I would think a week would do, but I don't know if I would free range her alone as she'd be pretty vulnerable to predators.

 

[FaithVondras987]

Definitely get her at least one chicken buddy. It doesn't take that long to home a chicken to a coop, I would think a week would do, but I don't know if I would free range her alone as she'd be pretty vulnerable to predators.

The person I got her from raised her a free run