First time in coop

[JA2626]

We are going to put our hens (5) in the coop for the first time next weekend, they will be 6-7 weeks. The coop has an enclosed run. Do we still want to keep them "locked" in the coop only portion (no run) for that 1st week to train them where "home" is? And therefore we must put the food and water in there as well. (Does it stay in there for good?) It is hot out, 90-95 during the day, will they be too hot locked in the coop? I would have to assume it will be even hotter in there.

 

[HEChicken]

Heat was my concern as well when I moved my birds to our new property a week ago. In the end I couldn't bring myself to lock them up for more than 36 hours because our temps were getting in the triple digits and I didn't want to end up losing some to heat stress. Outside they have the option to find places that are shady and dig into the ground to stay cool.

In answer to your question though, if it weren't so hot, yes, I would advise keeping them locked in for a week. It helps imprint on them where home (roost place/bedtime) is. When not locked in for a period of time, they sometimes decide to sleep out in the run and then you have the dickens of a time re-training them to the coop.

For what its worth, my girls didn't try any of that and from day one returned to the coop at night to sleep, even though they were only locked in for 36 hours, however luck may have played a big part there and if weather conditions had been different, I would have kept them confined for a full week.

Regarding food, yes, I keep it in the coop full-time. First, this keeps it from getting rained on and spoiled. Second, by having to return to the coop to food, it is reinforced as "home" and keeps them coming back in.

I keep water in the run. I don't care if it gets rained on, and that way they can't ruin the bedding by slopping water around (I have ducks too, that splash water around far more than the chickens would). Having it in the run also keeps them from filling the waterer with bedding.

 

[RonC]

I never locked mine in the coop. It wouldn't even be an option with the weather now.I just went out after dark and put them in the coop the first night. They are really docile after dark so no chasing them. The second night I put a couple in the coop and the others followed wanting to stay together. By night three night mine were on the ramp waiting for me to tuck them in. For a while a couple of them would sit in the doorway looking out. Now that they are almost grown they go in before dark.

 

[jm22508]

My chickens have been out a week now and I've never locked them in the run, and here's where I'm at.

It took a few nights to figure out up and down the ladder. I got my girls in two groups, which they kind of stick to, and the younger three have figured out up and down, and go in every night. The older three want to roost in the run at night. I go out and put them in the coop after dark, and they stay in there all night. In the morning, all but one (my buff orp) is down in the run when I get up. She still hasn't figured it out.

I figure I'll have to put them up there each night for a while, but they'll figure it out. I live in Austin, TX, so it's bloody hot, and I let them free range during the day, so I just don't have the heart to lock them inside to train them. I'm sure they'll get it eventually.