First night in coop, questions

[showjumper_girl2002]

So tonight is the first night my 2 cream legbar pullets will be staying in their coop! It's probably silly but I'm nervous for them lol. They are 6-7 weeks old. They won't roost/sit on the perches and peep like crazy when I go to check on them. Is that normal for a chicks first time in the coop? Their peeping makes me feel so bad I put water in with them but not their food, should I put their food in too? I'm sure I'm probably over thinking all this and just being paranoid, but I just want to make sure they're comfortable and I do everything right.

 

[azygous]

Chickens learn early how to guilt-trip their humans.

And they hate change of any sort, and will punish you for inflicting it on their delicate sensibilities.

Always remember this.

And keep reminding yourself humans are smarter than chickens.

 

[azygous]

When moving chicks into their coop for the first time, it helps tremendously to install them early in the day. This way they have all day to explore their new home while it's still light.

If your chicks have never had to sleep in the dark, it helps to have a dim night light for the first few nights until they adjust. This also aids in helping them to learn to go inside the coop at night once you begin to let them out into their run.

Chicks are very wary of new surroundings, needing time to become comfortable with the change. It's also normal for them to be a little afraid of the dark at first, and it helps them to be comfortable in the coop while it's still light before needing to adjust to a strange place after dark.

Food and water are totally unnecessary in the coop at night. Food and water should be placed where the chicks will be spending their days.

 

[JenniferCNY]

I was a nervous wreck when I moved my pullets into the coop for the first time last year. So normal! Mine were close to 3 moths so I don't have advice on the roosting but it's okay to be worried. It shows how much you love them.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

When moving chicks into their coop for the first time, it helps tremendously to install them early in the day. This way they have all day to explore their new home while it's still light.

If your chicks have never had to sleep in the dark, it helps to have a dim night light for the first few nights until they adjust. This also aids in helping them to learn to go inside the coop at night once you begin to let them out into their run.

Chicks are very wary of new surroundings, needing time to become comfortable with the change. It's also normal for them to be a little afraid of the dark at first, and it helps them to be comfortable in the coop while it's still light before needing to adjust to a strange place after dark.

Food and water are totally unnecessary in the coop at night. Food and water should be placed where the chicks will be spending their days.

I did let them in the coop/run during the day. I couldn't lock them in the coop as I live in Florida and it would get too hot. They got used to it pretty quickly and they have been in the dark before. However, they sure didn't seem to be too happy about getting locked in the coop for bed time lol. I did put them in a little before dark though, so they did have light for a little while. I checked on them a couple times during the night and they seemed ok. Went out at the crack of dawn this morning and, of course, they were fine sure were happy to see me though

I thought that you didn't need to put the food and water in with them at night but just wanted to make sure that wasn't why they were peeping since they were used to having it available at all times in their brooder.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

Are they alone in the coop? Most of the time chicks won't roost until they'll older. I have five eight week old chicks and only now they're starting to roost only if we put them on a bar. MOst of the time they like to sleep together in a nesting box.

As for the screaming, try one night and see how they do.

It's just the 2 of them. I know it's silly, but I'm a nervous wreck with them spending the night outside for the first time! Was so nice when they were in our tub in the brooder where I knew they were safe and sound lol I know I'm going to be checking on them all throughout the night

 

[RUNuts]

At 4 weeks, we moved our birds to the coop. Food and water inside for 3 weeks, but open to the run daily. The pullets would crowd in a nest box around the waterer. So after 2 weeks of that, I blocked off the nest boxes. They had the choice of roost or corner and the first couple of nights it was split. All are now roosting at 8 weeks and I pulled the water out.

The first couple of days, we put them all to bed early in the coop. the 3rd day. I put half up. The fourth day 2 and fifth day only one was wandering around the run calling. After that, I go out and close the door about 8:30. Late enough the sun is setting, but early enough I don't need a flashlight. Really is a neat trick.

And just like dogs, they are always hungry - until you offer them something they don't want. HaHa. Just like toddlers. I want candy, not vegetables.

 

[bobbieschicks]

They will figure it out in their own when they are ready. It's amazing how chickens just seem to know intuitively what to do. I would just let them explore their surroundings during the daytime so they can figure out how to feel safe. As long as your run is predator proof/ safe then I would leave them loose and let them make all the choices of when to go inside the coop. My girls usually go in shortly before dark but occasionally one will want to pull an all nighter outside. My run isn't predator proof for night time in that it's a large open area surrounded by welded wire and covered only by bird netting so my girls have to go inside the coop or risk getting killed in the night.

If your run isn't predator proof and the girls are unsure about going into the coop at night you can wait until dark and using as little light as possible, pick them up and move them inside to the floor. They may fuss but they will soon settle down. I wouldn't put a light in with them at night as that could signal daytime and then they'd want to leave the unfamiliar coop.

Chickens are so much fun to watch as they learn and grow!

 

[ChickonLand]

So tonight is the first night my 2 cream legbar pullets will be staying in their coop! It's probably silly but I'm nervous for them lol. They are 6-7 weeks old. They won't roost/sit on the perches and peep like crazy when I go to check on them. Is that normal for a chicks first time in the coop? Their peeping makes me feel so bad I put water in with them but not their food, should I put their food in too? I'm sure I'm probably over thinking all this and just being paranoid, but I just want to make sure they're comfortable and I do everything right.

Are they alone in the coop? Most of the time chicks won't roost until they'll older. I have five eight week old chicks and only now they're starting to roost only if we put them on a bar. MOst of the time they like to sleep together in a nesting box.

As for the screaming, try one night and see how they do.

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

Chickens learn early how to guilt-trip their humans.

And they hate change of any sort, and will punish you for inflicting it on their delicate sensibilities.

Always remember this.

And keep reminding yourself humans are smarter than chickens.

I love the way you put that!