How do you get chickens to use their new coop?

[ishism]

Hey there. How do you get chickens to use their new coop? I finished this coop a couple weeks ago, and I am tired of plucking our chickens from the trees at night.

Suggestions?

 

[karlamaria]

Do you have a pen? You need to keep them in there pen so they learn to go into the coop at night, if not pen then you need to train them. I trained my girls early on to come when I call them with goodies in hand. They will follow me any where. I say... Where's my girls and they come running. They have been taught that when I say this I have treats so they follow me into the coop, or pen or where ever I want them to go. Then I give the treat. They go in to there coop or run on there own now at dusk, but if I need to leave and need them in there pen I just all them and in they go.

 

[ishism]

We do have a pen. The pen is approximately 5'6"... and because their wings are not currently clipped they can fly over it.

 

[joan1708]

Most of the books will tell you to leave them in the coop a couple days for them to consider it home.

 

[BigRooNTN]

I got a wire cover over my run. It keeps them in and predators out and dont cause any harm to them. I'm just sayin............

 

[melndel]

I originally had my baby chicks in our shed so they were kind of lost when we first introduced them to the new coop and run. They spent all day in the run so happy but, when dusk approached they would just huddle together in a corner and chirp so I had to put them in the coop. I took the advice I found on here and decided to keep them in the coop for 48 hours. After that, I let them out but kept their food and water in the coop for 2 more days. IT WORKED! Every night since they have gone into their coop on their own (like clockwork) by 9:30 pm. I just go out and shut the door and they are safe and snug. Give it a shot...it should work . Good luck!

 

[ishism]

This is the same thing that my wife suggested. She knows more than I do, and so that is what we are trying. Our first test was to leave them in for 3 days straight, and then kept feeding/watering them inside the coop... but they still ended up in the trees the first day we let them loose. So, we are leaving them in for a few more days. Hopefully it works this time

 

[makide]

We moved our coop and all the chickens just stood together in the middle of the grass at night where the coop use to be. We thought, Oh boy! Now what? We had to heard them to the new coop area for a few nights but it didn’t long for them to catch on. We keep food and water in there and made sure the light was on. They are all Free Range. 50 in all. All different breeds.
We have now added another coop. We have put food and water inside and after 2 days one group is hanging out inside longer each day. We leave the light on and are hoping this flock will start going into this new coop at night. We are going to give it a few days before trying to force them in.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I've kept my 9 in the building since Thu. Thought I'd have the fencing for the run up on Sat. but rain decided I wasn't. So, today, I took my expens and set them up with netting over it, attached to the building.

Couldn't get the buggers to go out in the sun lol.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

Most of the books will tell you to leave them in the coop a couple days for them to consider it home.

The warmer the coop is. the earlier they get used to it. after all, they need additional warmth every night.