Coop Training

[jojorose8]

I'm FINALLY getting ready to move my 7 week old chicks into the coop. I've read its good to keep the chicks inside the new coop for a few days so they learn to return there at night. I'm concerned though because it's pretty dark inside the coop and I know chickens don't see well in the dark. The coop is 4'x6' with windows on each of the 4' walls, but it's still dark inside. Should I put a light inside while I'm coop training?

 

[SueT]

They'll be fine either way. If you do use a light, turn it off at night. A couple of days and nights locked inside should be all you need. I did that when I moved mine out at 4 1/2 weeks. When I finally opened up the door to the run, they practiced going in and out, orienting themselves. Any sudden noise and they'd all scurry back in. They felt secure in their coop. They also knew to go in at night. Those 2 days locked in made a big difference.
Good luck!

 

[PD-Riverman]

I'm FINALLY getting ready to move my 7 week old chicks into the coop. I've read its good to keep the chicks inside the new coop for a few days so they learn to return there at night. I'm concerned though because it's pretty dark inside the coop and I know chickens don't see well in the dark. The coop is 4'x6' with windows on each of the 4' walls, but it's still dark inside. Should I put a light inside while I'm coop training?

Does this coop have a chicken pen around it?? Or just opened to the world/free-range. If it has a run I do not keep mine in their for days. I put them in their at night---closing the door so they can not get out the nest morning for a couple of good day-light hour----then I open the door and allow them to come out when they get ready. Then a little while before dark I have a low wattage bulb come on inside the coop which draws them in to the coop. I allow this light to burn about 2 hrs only and let it do the same thing the next few evenings. If they do not go inside the first night I put them in on a roost, might have to do the same the next day but they usually get it quick.

Now if your coop does not have a pen/run outside the coop, you would need to do something different.

 

[jojorose8]

Does this coop have a chicken pen around it?? Or just opened to the world/free-range. If it has a run I do not keep mine in their for days. I put them in their at night---closing the door so they can not get out the nest morning for a couple of good day-light hour----then I open the door and allow them to come out when they get ready. Then a little while before dark I have a low wattage bulb come on inside the coop which draws them in to the coop. I allow this light to burn about 2 hrs only and let it do the same thing the next few evenings. If they do not go inside the first night I put them in on a roost, might have to do the same the next day but they usually get it quick.

Now if your coop does not have a pen/run outside the coop, you would need to do something different.

My coop has a run attached to. So I can just put them in the coop portion at night and then let them out to the run during the day? And they will still learn to return to the coop at night?

 

[PD-Riverman]

My coop has a run attached to. So I can just put them in the coop portion at night and then let them out to the run during the day? And they will still learn to return to the coop at night?

Yes, I put them in the coop after dark--the nest morning I leave them in it long enough to get familiar with inside. Then open the door and let them come out when they are ready. The light draw them in close dark.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

When ours were chicks they were confined to the coop for a week or so due to the fact the run wasn't finished. They were already used to the day/night cycle in the brooder after they were weaned from the heat lamp so I never really thought about needing a light out there. They did fine. I guess they settled in for sleep as the sun went down. After the run was finished there was only 1 night that they got locked out (we have a auto door) and we had to put them in. We always checked on them for the first week or 2.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I never really thought about needing a light out there. They did fine. .

You might not need a "draw" light---nothing to do with heat. When I put 100 chicks say In a coop for the first time tonight----tomorrow evening I am in hopes that small light burning at bed time draws them into the new coop and it usually works great for me. Trying to gather up 100+/- chicks after dark to place in their new coop is fun. After a few evenings and they have learned the new coop I remove the small light.

 

[1TurkenLover]

I'm FINALLY getting ready to move my 7 week old chicks into the coop. I've read its good to keep the chicks inside the new coop for a few days so they learn to return there at night. I'm concerned though because it's pretty dark inside the coop and I know chickens don't see well in the dark. The coop is 4'x6' with windows on each of the 4' walls, but it's still dark inside. Should I put a light inside while I'm coop training?

: We do, put in 2 Puck Lights High on opposite walls, and 1 of those Big Round Tap Lights also High on wall. we use the Tap Light @ Dusk till am when we Open Main coops in morning. then we turn Off.. Puck lights we use after a week or so, when chicks have learned Where to roost. Otherwise they would NOT go in to a Dark place. We keep Chicks Locked in from First Night how many nights depends on chicks.. Depends on how they are taking the Move to Tweener Coop. We Put Em in at Night, seems to be Less Stressful on .