BkyrdFarmer
In the Brooder
- Jun 4, 2024
- 32
- 52
- 49
I didnt really know where else to post this thread? So I have a small coop with an attached run that is mostly polycarb panels, vented top and bottom. Its like a secure greenhouse and the girls loved it the moment I opened their coop up to the run. They Love it so much I never could ever get them back into the coop. I brooded them outside in the floor of the coop, it was a bit dicey but we pulled it off. When they were of age I opened the brooder/coop up to the rest of the run, which isnt really a run per say. It functions as one. It has a serious floor nothing can get through and the only thing that can get through that polycarb is ... maybe a bear. However they are situated inside two fences(1 electric) and located 20 ft from my bedroom window. Nothing is getting to them. Once they were let into the run they never went back into the coop. I have found them all in the coop in the day time, exploring it some, climbing on the roosts, but they dont sleep in the coop. I put a roost bar in the run to promote getting them off the floor weeks ago and it worked after several days. They have been roosting on a roost boards for about 10 weeks or something. I actually had two, one higher than the other, but I removed the top one yesterday and they all slept on the lower one last night.
My question is what is the best way to get them to migrate to the roost bars in the coop? They have been free ranging since like 5 or 6 weeks old. They do all the normal chicken stuff they are suppose to do except get them up in the coop at night. They put themselves to bed perfectly, they just sleep in the run rather than the coop. My plan is to remove this last roost bar inside the run and try to get them to seek those inside roosts. I dont like the rope and maybe they dont either so I plan on grabbing some 2x4 and just making some plain old 2x roost bars. Thats what they are familiar with and the rope is problematic to clean I think. It looks fancy...but? Next few days Ill make the bars more familiar to them. If you guys have any other ideas please let me know? That is my plan just remove their bars in the run and see if they seek the coop bars vs. the floor. Its insulated floor over masonory and big thick horsepads just under their bedding. Its safe from predators but not healthy to sleep on the floor from parasites and other germs I am fully aware. The nesting boxes are in the coop and at some point Im hoping they start using them too when they begin to lay. They dont even sleep in them. Its been open to them since day 2. Its also been pretty warm. I imagine when it starts getting cold they will apreciate the coop some and their ability to warm that space up better? This is our first coop, first flock, first backyard farming adventure with livestock, pets really. So far all their little chicken instincts have fired. They are EE so they arent very affectionate but they are very friendly and they will rub up against me but they dont like to be handled. It stresses them out just yet. So I dont make them do to much unless its for their health or safety. When they fly over the fence all I have to do is lift the fence up and they will run back underneath to safety. They fly over on accident sometimes. They seem to know that area is theirs and its their safe spot. Its far from finished. They need lots more going on and fencing is hard, Im working on making the fence wrap the house 3/4 of the way. But it all takes money and time, plus being a newb... You really dont know what you and your flock really need and where and how until you get there? Just like the coop furnishings. That obviously changes as the needs arrise. Anyhow sorry that is so winded but I needed you to understand my chicken situation. I could force them to sleep in the coop, they are chickens! However, I like to build trust with my animals and so far they have not been in much danger doing their own thang. I like to encourage them to make better choices, that seems to work better for building trust with most animals. When they get messy I clean them and when they have needs I tend to them. They know if I am forcing them to do something it is for their own good. Otherwise I let them be ... well... 'Them'!
My question is what is the best way to get them to migrate to the roost bars in the coop? They have been free ranging since like 5 or 6 weeks old. They do all the normal chicken stuff they are suppose to do except get them up in the coop at night. They put themselves to bed perfectly, they just sleep in the run rather than the coop. My plan is to remove this last roost bar inside the run and try to get them to seek those inside roosts. I dont like the rope and maybe they dont either so I plan on grabbing some 2x4 and just making some plain old 2x roost bars. Thats what they are familiar with and the rope is problematic to clean I think. It looks fancy...but? Next few days Ill make the bars more familiar to them. If you guys have any other ideas please let me know? That is my plan just remove their bars in the run and see if they seek the coop bars vs. the floor. Its insulated floor over masonory and big thick horsepads just under their bedding. Its safe from predators but not healthy to sleep on the floor from parasites and other germs I am fully aware. The nesting boxes are in the coop and at some point Im hoping they start using them too when they begin to lay. They dont even sleep in them. Its been open to them since day 2. Its also been pretty warm. I imagine when it starts getting cold they will apreciate the coop some and their ability to warm that space up better? This is our first coop, first flock, first backyard farming adventure with livestock, pets really. So far all their little chicken instincts have fired. They are EE so they arent very affectionate but they are very friendly and they will rub up against me but they dont like to be handled. It stresses them out just yet. So I dont make them do to much unless its for their health or safety. When they fly over the fence all I have to do is lift the fence up and they will run back underneath to safety. They fly over on accident sometimes. They seem to know that area is theirs and its their safe spot. Its far from finished. They need lots more going on and fencing is hard, Im working on making the fence wrap the house 3/4 of the way. But it all takes money and time, plus being a newb... You really dont know what you and your flock really need and where and how until you get there? Just like the coop furnishings. That obviously changes as the needs arrise. Anyhow sorry that is so winded but I needed you to understand my chicken situation. I could force them to sleep in the coop, they are chickens! However, I like to build trust with my animals and so far they have not been in much danger doing their own thang. I like to encourage them to make better choices, that seems to work better for building trust with most animals. When they get messy I clean them and when they have needs I tend to them. They know if I am forcing them to do something it is for their own good. Otherwise I let them be ... well... 'Them'!
