How long before they think of new coop as 'home'?

[A.T. Hagan]

I usually keep them shut up for a week but once in a while I'll get some stubborn birds that have to be confined longer.

 

[Orchid]

I locked mine in the coop for two days, then opened the door to the run. It took them a couple more days to come out on their own, but they had the option.

Now when I move their tractor, I make sure they've been shut in the coop for two nights straight before I allow them out to free range at all. Otherwise they go back to the old location at night and try to find something on which to roost.

ETA: As long as they have two nights in a row in their new coop, they always put themselves to bed with no trouble at all. Maybe I have smart chickens? Nah...

 

[welsummerchicks]

You don't think chickens need a heat lamp for those fifteen and twenty below zero days that seem to happen here? Normally, the winter temperatures run around 15-20 degrees at night and mid twenties to thirty degrees in the daytime. I'm worried about the random day/week where it doesn't go above zero even during the day.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's why I asked whereabouts you were located. I do know that some BYC members that live in Alaska don't heat their coops, but it does depend not only on what breeds you have, but where you live. I know some parts of places like Alaska are very much colder than others.

 

[welsummerchicks]

Some areas of Alaska are much warmer than here. One of the difficulties of this area is sudden changes of temperature. It can drop suddenly or we can get a cold snap that lasts up to a week. This can be 20 or 30 degrees colder than what the animals are used to.

I do understand that it's not good for the animals to be kept like little hot house flowers, I'm just worried about some of the odd moments we get here. We had one spell a few years ago that lasted a week, and during the day, the temperature was not once over zero - at night, 25 below. When this happens even the horses don't go out, due to ice.