How can I get my chickens to switch coops?

[willu707]

Hello, my name is Will. My wife and i have been raising 6 chickens since last spring, and we couldn't be happier. This year we decided to add 4 more baby chicks to our group, so in anticipation I went out and got a larger chicken coop. What I really want to do is get the current 6 to move to the new coop, including their egg laying. Our current house only had room for the 6, and it had 2 egg nesting boxes. The 6 of them all use the same box, taking turns of course. How can I get them to start laying in the new coop? We have been putting them in the new house at night for the past 3 nights with no issues, but during the day they still go into their old house to lay. Should I move their old house to another part of the yard to try and get them to use the other? Thanks

 

[Leahs Mom]

Could you possibly shut the access door to the old coop?

 

[ThePigeonKid]

Could you possibly shut the access door to the old coop?

And then put feed in the new coop.

 

[Junior1]

We've just got our first 14 chickens. They are 9 months old and seem to be doing fine with the adjustment of moving. However, they too are sharing the same nesting box. Are there any other ways to stop this other than placing eggs or golf balls into the other nest?

 

[willu707]

Yea, ours are the same way. New coop has four nesting boxes, but the 6 chickens still lay in the same box. Any tips to get them to claim their own?

We've just got our first 14 chickens. They are 9 months old and seem to be doing fine with the adjustment of moving. However, they too are sharing the same nesting box. Are there any other ways to stop this other than placing eggs or golf balls into the other nest?

 

[Junior1]

So, we have tried spreading the eggs to no avail. We have had golf balls in their nests for the past three days. I guess they are golfing fans...they have moved all the balls out of the nest boxes and into a pile in the middle of the coop. Strange birds. Does anyone think shutting off this one nest box would be a good idea?

 

[fiddlebanshee]

I wouldn't worry about them all using one box, unless some of them are starting to lay outside a nest. They will figure it out themselves, in their own silly chickenway.

 

[TonySorrento]

So, we have tried spreading the eggs to no avail. We have had golf balls in their nests for the past three days. I guess they are golfing fans...they have moved all the balls out of the nest boxes and into a pile in the middle of the coop. Strange birds.

That is just hilarious!!!!