How long do you keep hens confined for teaching them a new place to roost?

[Ardella Crawford]

I looked at other threads but couldn't find something to address my exact question. My chickens are all free range. This summer, one of the hens made absolutely no attempt to take her chicks to the chicken houses to teach them to roost (this was a first for me). When she was ready, she just went back on her own and left the chicks to fend for themselves. They all decided to roost in the lilac bushes. I kept thinking they'd catch on, especially when they would sometimes go to the chicken yard to feed in the morning, but nope. Long story short, I've had to catch them and shut them inside one of the chicken houses that has a long run. They have plenty of room, and they don't seem unhappy.

How long do I need to keep them there to be sure they won't head for their old roosting spot once I let them out? I was thinking two weeks, but read elsewhere 3-7 days. They are 6-7 months old, I think. The rooster got smart and started roosting on his own in a chicken house several days ago, but the 5 hens didn't have a clue.

 

[WingItRanch]

Since these were broody raised and probably a little more feral, I'd err on the side of caution and keep them in the coop/run for a couple weeks as long as they have enough space.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How long do I need to keep them

Whatever the exact topic, whenever you start a question like this the answer is "I don't know". You do not get any guarantees with chickens and their behaviors. I don't know how ling it would take.

But I'll make a suggestion. Every night, after dark and they are easy to catch, go out there and lock them in the coop you want them to sleep in. Keep doing this every night until they go in on their own for a straight week. Then try letting them out and see what happens. Right now it sounds like you are teaching them to sleep in that run, not the coop. While you have them teach them to sleep where you want them to.

This summer, one of the hens made absolutely no attempt to take her chicks to the chicken houses to teach them to roost (this was a first for me).

I've seen that behavior before. Each hen can be different. You don't get guarantees with chickens and their behaviors. That can make them frustrating but just shows that each one can be different.