Help with moving chicks into the coop

[chickens really]

Just wanted to say I followed all this advice and just about a week in we're in 100% good shape. 2 barred rocks & 3 RIR, put them in there at 4 weeks. They started in the run during the day and coop at night. Amazing how much instinct just takes over and they know what to do.

The first two nights we did have to round them up and put them in the coop. A couple roosted right away and the other three spent that first night in the pine shavings. By night two all of them started huddling on the roost.

Just after sunset they start making A LOT OF NOISE, getting their last snacks and water, and heading up the ramp. When things settle down we go over there and close the door. Then the first one up goes and pulls the rope to let them out.

HaHaHa!!!!! lol
I guess you need to figure out the door better?

Glad to hear they are happy in the coop!

 

[mclanea]

@chickens really Yeah, built the pop door with specs in mind for one of those automatic doors. Spendy lil suckers.

 

[chickens really]

@chickens really Yeah, built the pop door with specs in mind for one of those automatic doors. Spendy lil suckers.

lol...BUGGERS!

 

[chickens really]

lol...BUGGERS!

Enjoy the chickens and your Eggs!

Have fun, I do!

 

[jstp]

I have 4 adults and 6 that are 6 months old. I have 2 coops. I'd like to move 2 of the 6 into the larger coop with the 4. I've been moving them each night for almost a week. Any chance they will ever do it on their own?

 

[azygous]

Chickens are slow in accepting change. You need to help them along by blocking off the old coop so they are forced to use the one you want them to roost in.

But you're facing an uphill battle by trying to separate brooder mates from one another. The move would go more easily and quicker if you moved all of them as a unit. They have a tight bond, formed in the brooder as they grow, and it lasts for the rest of their lives.

I have a chicken get bullied at roosting time decide to go roost in the second coop, but they always move back with their buddies after a couple nights.

Trying to split your pullets up like your are wanting is inviting failure.

 

[jstp]

I don't want to stress any of them. Just space is a bit tight in the new coop. More space in the old coop. Just not enough space for 10, I don't think. I have 4 buffs, 2 black sex links, and 4 wyandottes. Roosting area is 24 sq ft. Thoughts about that?

 

[azygous]

Like I said, you're going to be fighting against "brooder bond".

Moving chickens will be stressful. Don't entertain ideas that it can be done without getting everyone upset.

If you have a foot of perch space for each of the six to roost, six feet all together, then they should be left alone. If it's perch space that's in short supply, can you explore the possibility of adding an additional, perhaps higher perch in the coop where the six pullets live?

Trying to split them up is inviting a lot of stress and frustration that is unnecessary. A coop can be small in overall square footage, but can still be made to work by increasing perch space.

 

[jstp]

Thanks for the valuable input. I will leave well enough alone.