How do you get chickens to change coops

[marilyn1954]

We had 10 hens in a coop.(a coop that holds 25 hens). We got 15 more chicks this past May. We had a second smaller coop that the baby chicks went into and they both share a run. Now that it's getting cold I need for some of the chicks who are now much bigger and laying to go to the larger coop so they are not crammed in the smaller that really only holds 10 hen comfortably. When we try and move them to the larger coop they want no part of it! When they free range during the day, they don't really co-mingle they stay in the old lady group, or the young kids group......what the heck can I do???

 

[marilyn1954]

 

[aart]

What are the dimensions of the larger coop, in feet by feet?
How much roost length in the larger coop, again in feet?
Pics of inside of larger coop would help too.

Sub flocks are common, especially before the younger ones start laying-but even then they often stay apart.
They have bonded as 'groups' and are 'homed' to their respective coops.
You'll have to 'force' the issue by closing off the smaller coop and will probably have to place the youngers in the larger coop at roost time for quite awhile....it's another step in the integration.

That's a nice setup for rotating stock.