Hens not coming out of coop

[magicjeep]

I'm a new chicken owner and last night was the first night the 4 hens stayed out in their coop. I opened the door this morning and 3 hours later they were still in the coop. I just went and took them out so they could eat and run around. Should I just leave them to come out on their own or is it something they need to learn? Thanks for the help.

 

[iwiw60]

Just leave them alone...they'll come out when they're ready...trust me! Curiosity will get the better of them...might take all day..sillly chickens!!

 

[Kazfam]

Are they in the nesting boxes or just on the roost?
If they are in the boxes they might be brooding...
If on the roost - I agree with iwiw60 .

 

[aart]

Give them time to get used to their new surroundings.

Do they have a run? How old are they?

If you're free ranging, its good idea to leave them locked in the coop for a week or so, so they learn that it's their safe place to go at night and to lay.

 

[magicjeep]

They're 8 weeks old and in a run. I'm not sure if they came out of the coop yesterday (I wasn't home and my 6 year old son opened the coop for them) but so far today they're all still in the coop which has been open since earlier this morning. I'm hoping its just a matter of getting used to their new home.

 

[iwiw60]

You might try sprinkling some "treats" on the ramp leading out of the coop...this might entice them to go out and see the big wide world...because once they do, you'll probably have this problem in REVERSE...trying to get them to go back IN the coop!! It's a 'chicken thing' .....

 

[magicjeep]

I left them alone today and one of the hens came out on her own. She started making a racket and after a few minutes made her way back into the coop. I'm guessing she got lonely. I think my ramp may be too steep also and I'm going to try and adjust it tomorrow. Any ideas what a good angle is for the ramp?

 

[aart]

I left them alone today and one of the hens came out on her own. She started making a racket and after a few minutes made her way back into the coop. I'm guessing she got lonely. I think my ramp may be too steep also and I'm going to try and adjust it tomorrow. Any ideas what a good angle is for the ramp?

Less than 45 degrees....you can put a concrete block or something like that under the bottom that they can jump up on to shallow out the angle.

1" x 1" Cleats every 4-6" helps too.

 

[disneyguy]

Hi there - I'm new to owning chickens myself (brought the flock home this past Sunday)!

The first night I couldn't get my hens to even glance at their coop (my setup is a 4 ft run attached to a coop). I had to physically place them inside the coop the first night, "coop" them in for the night, and stood around for about 5 minutes and they were still clucking around, seemingly unable to settle down. I've done this routine for the past couple of days: just before sundown, go out and spend a couple minutes with them in the run and then guide them to the coop, and just before sunrise, open the coop up for them to come on out. Right after I get home (or right when my wife gets home, which is typically before me) they are let out of their coop and into the run. This evening, they made it into the coop and started snoozing before I even went out to "tuck" them in! They are smart little suckers.