How long do new chickens need to stay in the coop?

[Jambo88]

My chooks have just been delivered and the breeder has told Mrs Jambo that they need to stay in the coop for 2/3 days which seems a bit long as when I had chickens before we kept them in the coop for 2/3 hours then let them roam about the run

They aren't going to free range they will be staying in the run so do they really need to stay in the coop that long? Also I've only made an auto feeder and nipple drinker that are in the run so I don't really want to got out and buy a drinker and feeder to put in the coop for a couple of days usage?

 

[Jambo88]

I’m in agreement. They need to know where you will keep their food and water and they will learn that the coop is their night time home. It won’t take but you showing the. A couple times at the most depending on their age. How old are they. Your familiarity with them is going to be a huge factor in all of their behavior and what they have learned to do already. Like roost.

I think they are about 16 weeks maybe a bit younger because on 2 of them their combs are really small (Sussex Ranger and White Star) and the other 3 don't look like they even have a comb?

We all spent some time holding them and just being in the run whilst they were scratching about

I spent time picking each one up and taking them to the drinker and touched their beaks on the nipples a few times and 4 of them are using it fine but the White Star can't quite figure it out and keeps pecking the pipe or the side of the nipple but she'll get there in the end

When it started getting dark we went out to usher them into the coop and 4 of them were already in and up on the roost so I just put the last one in and locked them up so it went better than I thought I expected to put them in at night for at least a couple of nights like when I had my last lot

 

[black_cat]

As someone who is not an expert in this subject, I'd say that you can let them in the coop and run now, and put them all on the roosts and lock them in the coop at night.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I wouldn't keep them closed in the coop since it has a run attached.....provided that run has wire, netting, or a roof on it.
An open top run can lead to escapes. Birds new to the coop won't head back to it if they hop a fence.

You may need to put them in the coop at night for a few days.

 

[Jambo88]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see them go into the coop when it gets dark all by themselves. I was told they would do this, and when I saw them doing it, I was pretty happy. I also put a small wattage lightbulb in the coop (it just hangs there), so they'll saunter and swagger into the coop from the run.

View attachment 2293927
this is my chicken run and the coop in the background (a converted shed). Because it is summer, and they're fully enclosed, I leave the door open. When it get cooler though, I will only open the door for eggs, and they can use the 'chicken door' I'll put into the main one.

I wouldn't keep them closed in the coop since it has a run attached.....provided that run has wire, netting, or a roof on it.
An open top run can lead to escapes. Birds new to the coop won't head back to it if they hop a fence.

You may need to put them in the coop at night for a few days.

Heres my coop and run

Its all fully enclosed as I've got hawks and red kites in my area so it needed a roof on it
The missus has just rung me and said shes let them out and they are having a good old scratch about

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm a "lock 'em in" type but that's because I want to home them to the coop with as little work from my end as possible. Works for me, so that's how I do it, but nothing says you must do it that way.

 

[Chicalina]

That is a great coop. I've just built a new covered run for mine too, but not as big as yours. The rain here just demands it. They free ranged but I needed to reclaim my garden!

I still let them out on the grass because otherwise I've got to mow it !

We've got masses of red kites here too. And buzzards but less so. Crows chase them off mostly and I've got a great cockerel who watches out for his laydeeeeees

<waves from England>

 

[Chicalina]

It's so interesting to hear other people's experiences. I never cease to be amazed at the protection you need to safeguard your birds, when I don't even need to lock mine up in the coop in summer overnight. I have a nearby legion of crows (about 50 or more jackdaws) who have fantastic aerial battles with the kites and hawks around here, always seeing them off.

I've only ever lost one bird in many many years of chicken keeping, and I have no idea if someone or something took her, or she just ran away! Cream legbar she was, and very flighty. Just disappeared one day.

 

[Jambo88]

Cheers black cat that's what I was thinking

 

[Malfean]

When I transferred my chickens from the brooder to the Coop, I kept them 'cooped' up for 2 days, with a little bit of 'runtime'. My chickens stay mostly in the run, although I do let them into my fenced in backyard when I am out there, or my kids are (we have some Falcons and Hawks in the area that are relishing the opportunity for a Chicken Dinner). But if you've already been introducing them, I'd say Black Cat has it fine - you can let them out into the run now - but be sure to lock them up in the evening. They'll get into the habit of going into the coop when it gets dark all on their own too.