First night with the newbies in the coop. Gulp.

[mclanea]

Here we are a couple weeks later and we're still acting like mama hen at night. The 9-week olds make their way into the run at dusk with everyone else. They'll go up the ramp. They'll go into the coop. But they won't get onto the roost. We've had a couple times where one of them will get on the roost and then come back out.

Last night, we didn't get home until after dark and they were sleeping on the outside roost in the run.

The only "problem" we're having with them at all is that the older hens won't let the younger ones use their waterer. There is another waterer they can use... but it's just getting old!

 

[aart]

Here we are a couple weeks later and we're still acting like mama hen at night. The 9-week olds make their way into the run at dusk with everyone else. They'll go up the ramp. They'll go into the coop. But they won't get onto the roost. We've had a couple times where one of them will get on the roost and then come back out.

Last night, we didn't get home until after dark and they were sleeping on the outside roost in the run.

The only "problem" we're having with them at all is that the older hens won't let the younger ones use their waterer. There is another waterer they can use... but it's just getting old!

Put up a separate roost in the coop for the youngin's.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Here we are a couple weeks later and we're still acting like mama hen at night. The 9-week olds make their way into the run at dusk with everyone else. They'll go up the ramp. They'll go into the coop. But they won't get onto the roost. We've had a couple times where one of them will get on the roost and then come back out. 

Last night, we didn't get home until after dark and they were sleeping on the outside roost in the run. 

The only "problem" we're having with them at all is that the older hens won't let the younger ones use their waterer. There is another waterer they can use... but it's just getting old! 

Your chicks are still babies at 9 weeks, give them time. May times mine don't roost until they are older or it's warmer out. They prefer to pile in a corner to stay warmer. Unfortunately it can take them until they are about 3-4 months old before they start acting more adult.

 

[mclanea]

Put up a separate roost in the coop for the youngin's.

They have their own roost. I can put them on there and they are good. It's just getting old.

 

[mclanea]

Update: They are doing a lot better with going in and out of the run when they need it or want it. The biggest struggle we're having is over food, the older chickens just don't want to allow them access to it. So I'm keeping them a little more separate for chunks of the day... let's see how that goes.

Today marks the end of their brooder box. I didn't have it closed up so they just got used to leaving the run in the morning and pretty much hanging out there all day, since I could keep their food separate from the adults there.

And it also gave them escape from the dog. But it's time for them to all just get over one another and move along. He's not interested in hurting them but he does like following them around.