getting chickens out of the coop...*UPDATE* THEY'RE OUT!

[Goldenseal]

so my coop is a horse stall in my barn, it is against an outside wall so we cut a large hole so they
can go in and out. THEY WILL NOT GO OUT.

this has gone on for a year, not like I tried for a week, and gave up. LOL

so, then I opened up the barn doors, in case they felt they needed a bigger door to go out.

nope.

then I started feeding them by the door, and tossing the feed outside so they had to
go outside to get it.

nope.

although the horses discovered it , and like chicken feed. * eye roll*

they peck around the barn, but will not go outside. the older hens I have that
were used to going in and out, still do. the year old pullets will NOT follow them.

im at a loss. short of catching each one and tossing it out, I have no idea what to do.

so much for free ranging?

 

[WallTenters]

I would toss them all out! Once they learn how nice the outside is they'll go out. Are they afraid of the horses maybe? Normally chickens don't care but maybe you have... heehee chicken chickens?

 

[GarlicEater]

I'd go in on a nice day and gently shoo them out, and of course let them in in the evening, sort of be a "mother hen" walking them through the process.

 

[lemongrass]

I have a similar set-up. I cannot cut any holes because my pygmy goats can fit through as well and will run in to eat the chicken feed. What I did was chase them out, or pick up the ones who didn't get it and put them outside. I closed the door so they couldn't get back in. The first day they were scared and didn't do much pecking. By day three they loved it and would run to the stall door when it was time to be let out. They will also run back in to ravage the feed dish for literally a minute or two before they want to go back out. I'd say, toss them out and the first day don't let them back in except for night time. Next day, do it again. As long as the weather is nice and they have access to water, they'll be okay without feed until night time, or at least a few hours. When they seem comfortable pecking around outside and eating bugs/grass, then go ahead and leave the opening in the wall open for them to go in and out. Once they get the idea I'm sure they'll love it.

 

[Arielle]

I had to push them out the pop door too!!!

DH waited, ready to close the pop door while I picked up each one and gently pushed her out the door. Often she would come back in and I would push her back out again. In about 7 minutes all 25 were out the door and DH closed the pop door.

We stayed and watched. Most stayed near the pop door; a few moved away, drawing others to follow. In 2 days, they were checking out the entire run.

Today, I just opened the pop door (no DH to help). THey can choose today.

New experiences are frightening--my kids are reluctant, too, and managing them gave me the confidence to push my little hens out the door (by some one they know) and stay within sight to give them confidence. Life is scary at times.

GL

 

[Goldenseal]

WELL THEY ARE FINALLY OUT !!! I have free ranging birds again!

took forever but they finally made their way out of the big doors, forget
the chicken door. Here are some pics, of my brahma's and my little
duccle hen.