First night in the coop for my babies.. Scared mama here

[chickens really]

Definitely I'd keep them locked in the Coop for a few days to learn the Coop and then let them decide on their own if they want to venture out to the Run.

 

[townchicks]

You'll probably sleep better tonight. You are not the only one to go check on the babies during the night, when they first go out to the coop.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

You are not alone! I think the first two weeks my Littles spent out in the coop, I was up every two to three hours (I set my alarm) to check on them. We had a major rat problem in the yard at the time (I think that's FINALLY under control now), and although the rats never bothered the adult chickens, I was convinced they'd get into the coop and kill my babies. It's totally normal for us to worry about our precious little feather-butts . Glad yours are doing well!

 

[Shezadandy]

My chicks are finally feathered enough to be in the coop. We worked so hard on making it as safe as possible. I'm praying nothing gets in there, and they are safe and sound. I have a feeling I will not be sleeping much tonight.

We got netting on the top of the run for when they are out. Their coop seems pretty secure... (it's hard to see, but we do have aviary netting over the top)
View attachment 1893542

Looks nice! I assume you close your coop door at night? Most of what comes out at night wouldn't have much trouble defeating the net, but with a closed coop door and nothing to eat out at night, I've never had night predators try to invade.

I love aviary net- hard to see but very effective. It has saved my chickies more than once, including one just a month or two ago- I was about 10 feet from my mama hen and her littles and the hawk tried to dive on them- bounced off my net. It tried a few more times in other places … hopefully learned its lesson.

 

[pennyJo1960]

leave them in the coop at night no door to outside they do not have night vision being in the coop they also learn what is home

 

[Tiranni]

Looks nice! I assume you close your coop door at night? Most of what comes out at night wouldn't have much trouble defeating the net, but with a closed coop door and nothing to eat out at night, I've never had night predators try to invade.

I love aviary net- hard to see but very effective. It has saved my chickies more than once, including one just a month or two ago- I was about 10 feet from my mama hen and her littles and the hawk tried to dive on them- bounced off my net. It tried a few more times in other places … hopefully learned its lesson.

You are correct, we close the big front door normally. They have a small door on the side that we only leave open for the day and close at night.
I'm glad to hear about the netting. We noticed a hawk over their run today, he didn't try, but we weren't quite as worried.

 

[Shezadandy]

When we were closing them inside the coop, they were none to happy to be in the strange, scary place. (never mind the unfinished roost/poop boards- those are getting finished tomorrow) View attachment 1893644

If you haven't done the poop boards yet - or even if you have - usually farm supply stores sell 1/4" thick rubber mat, between 30-48" wide, very easy to cut with a box cutter to any size.

If you put that over your plywood, and then screw your 2x4's into the edges with the rubber mat underneath, your table will last MUCH longer and your coop will be much easier to keep smelling nice. Right now with the baby poo, it's not so bad- but once you get into the laying hen poo size, the moisture and volume increase quite a bit. I dust mine with Sweet PDZ and/or Stall Refresher to kill the ammonia smell.

 

[Shezadandy]

You are correct, we close the big front door normally. They have a small door on the side that we only leave open for the day and close at night.
I'm glad to hear about the netting. We noticed a hawk over their run today, he didn't try, but we weren't quite as worried.

Awesome! Yes, as long as it's good and tight and well-secured to the fence, it's excellent protection. Ours had been up 4 years before we moved and it was pretty much as good as new when we took it down- it has worn really well.