Did I move the coop trailer too far away?

[RenoHuskerDu]

We have a chicken coop trailer. Yesterday we started on our garden and decided to move the coop about 30 yards away. See pic.

Near nightfall, our girls were clearly in a tizzy. They would come and eat of the milk and honey in their moved coop (layer pellets) but then dash back and lurk around where the coop used to be. They hid under a flatbed trailer we were using to haul in sand for our clay soil. They tried to get in the old coop, used now only for water during the day. They would run back and forth, even though our worthless rooster was already sawing logs in the moved coop. I managed to herd about 5 into the moved coop. Finally I had to open the old coop up, and 3 girls bedded down there, where I grabbed them and put them in the right coop.

Did I move the coop too far? Should I move it a little every day? We only have half of the normal number of eggs so far today. Perhaps they are troubled by the coop moving.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, you moved it too far.
They will go back to the position of where they had safely slept before and sleep on the ground.
Move it back next to the garden as close to where it used to be and move it a little every couple days.

They can't comprehend a building moving.

 

[centrarchid]

When the birds have reference points like tree, then they are real particular about how far you move roost or nesting site. I see trees that would be reference points. In more open settings where the roost / nesting site dominates the landscape, then the birds will more likely accept a larger move.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They can't comprehend a building moving.

Haha so true. When I had a new coop built it was placed about 10-12' from where the old one was. I even locked the hens in for 2 days to acclimate them. Come sunset on their first day outside after that, 2 of 3 were sitting on the bare ground where the old coop had been.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They are very smart animals albeit with tiny brains.
They don't have to comprehend electronics, how to use a computer or drive a car. They only have to comprehend what is innate. Finding food, avoiding predators and procreation.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

When the birds have reference points like tree, then they are real particular about how far you move roost or nesting site. I see trees that would be reference points. In more open settings where the roost / nesting site dominates the landscape, then the birds will more likely accept a larger move.

Well that sheds some light. There is an outbuilding right next to the old coop location. During the hot summer or during rain, they go under there. I think I'd better move the coop trailer back closer to that building.

 

[Skipper81]

I really like your trailer coop idea

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Trailer coops are awesome. How you use them depends on your terrain. If you are in a prairie with no reference points, you can pretty much move them at will (while the chickens are inside). Otherwise, you need to move incrementally.
Moving it during the day when they are out foraging causes problems.
Same is true of bees. If you move a hive 10 feet, you may lose bees because they expect the hive to be where it was.

 

[centrarchid]

Well that sheds some light. There is an outbuilding right next to the old coop location. During the hot summer or during rain, they go under there. I think I'd better move the coop trailer back closer to that building.

I have a 10 foot x 10 foot chain link dog kennel used to house a bachelor group. It also has lots of reference points around it. To ensure the roosters can find their way back in after a move, is is only moved the length of the pen (about 10 feet). They are a little slow about getting in but only by a few minutes of confusion. When I rotate it so access faces a different direction, then we get into all sort of trouble as it takes more time to find the "new" opening. I would also have issues if someone moved or rotated my house with out telling me.

I cannot find thread in time allotted but it has pictures. The rooster are prepping ground for garden this spring.

 

[centrarchid]

I have been moving mine when birds are outside so it can be done.