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Mahan5175

Mahan5175

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Hi, I am new to being an owner of chicks and new to this website. I have 12 chickens that are 7 weeks old. 5 hens and 7 roosters, at least that is what I am told, and from research thats what it looks like. We have mix of 1 buff orp, 3 golden laced wyandotts and rest are barred rocks. We have them out in the coop now, and every night I usually have to run out and get them in the coop because they don't want to go in. Do they eventually just go in? or will they be like this for awhile?

Thanks and so excited to be on this journey!
 
The best thing to do is to leave them in the coop for at least a few days. This gives them time to get comfortable and to imprint it as a safe place to roost. 7 weeks is a bit young to be going in on their own at this point though. Make sure that they have a low roost that is wide enough and easy to get to. Good luck
 
Welcome to BYC. You need to lock them in the coop for 2 or 3 days so they realize the coop is their home. After that when you let them back out in the run they should return to the coop at dusk. This usually works well. Let us know if it doesn't.
 
Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. Raising chickens is exciting, isn't it? TaraBellsBirds has given you some good advice. Your chicks do need to imprint your coop as their home and a safe place to roost. Feel free to ask any more questions you may have and we will try to answer them. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck imprinting your coop as home for your flock.
 
I had them locked in the coop for 6 days before I let them out in their run, Most of them do run into the coop around dark, but there is usually 2 or 3 that I have to put in. One golden laced, who is the skittish ones of the bunch so far, really likes to make me work.
 
Hi and :welcome

Yeah, they'll get the hang of it eventually. We didn't lock ours in the coop, just put them there every night until they learned (so it's good to start young!). If you want to expand your flock, it also helps that any newcomers will learn the drill from existing chickens. :)
 
Thanks everyone!!! and thank you all for your advice and tips! I figured that they might just be a tad young and I would have to keep it up for awhile. and Yes I love chickens, and I am already looking to get more. I never knew how some could become pets (well, I am talking more about my buff orp than any of the other chicks.) But its still exciting to see them come running towards me when I get in their run area. Can't wait for more fun times with these crazy chickens!
 

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