Hens preferring hen house

[crowdoffour]

Hi! I am a very new chicken owner from Brisbane, Australia. We brought 3 x 20 week old girls home 3 days ago. We have a pretty modest coop that has a hen house and a fenced off run surrounding it. The girls are completely comfortable with the house but are very hesitant to leave it and enter the run. Should I leave them be or encourage them out? Also should I put their food and water inside their house or leave it outside? I spent a year researching how to care for chickens but never thought to research what to do once you bring them home!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings and . Happy you joined our community! I think I would put the food and water in the run...they will come out when they're settled in and get hungry. I feed and water my birds in the run as it keeps the coop less messy and fewer flies in their as well. Best of luck to you!

 

[crowdoffour]

Thank you

I had the food and water in the run to begin with but was so paranoid that they would starve and get thirsty. I've put an IceCube tray with water and a small container with pellets in the house and left their feeder and waterer in the run. I have also been supplying them with a fresh supply of scraps (carrot, lettuce, Apple and even some nasturtium flowers) but they just seem so nervous and not interested. Is this normal?

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. It's very normal behaviour - chickens hate change. They will be fine very soon, I'm sure.

Best wishes
Ct

 

[drumstick diva]

Once they feel secure they will venture out. If just one does, the others will follow. Everything loves to eat chicken, so that makes them fearful from the beginning.

 

[crowdoffour]

Thank you for your replies. I'm the complete opposite of a panicky parent with my four children but these chickens have me googling every little thing to see if it's normal

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!