How long does it take 8wk old chicks to get use to being in the coop?

[Hteeter2]

I have just 4 Rhode Island Reds in the new coop. They were put in there yesterday afternoon. Coming home from church I noticed it had been raining, and I really wanted any reason to check on them. I found all four huddle into a corner together on the ground. My hope was to catch them up on their new roost in their nice big coop because they outgrew their brooder box. Is this normal?

 

[Life is Good!]

Completely normal. Especially on a cold, wet, rainy spring day. Isn't that why we snuggle up on a couch on such a day to read or watch tv?!

Give them a day or so...might take a few more days for them to figure out 'up' on the roost bar depending on how high up it is. They'll figure it out pretty quickly.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Mine just turned 9 weeks and still haven't figured out to go in the coop at night or in bad weather. We had a massive rainstorm about a week ago, with the rain blowing sideways and I look out the window and see the chicks huddled together outside the coop in a corner of the run. I still have to physically move them into the coop at night although yesterday one of them did go in at night, then right back out. It is supposed to rain again today, so I know I will be out there putting them in the coop.

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Did you start them in the coop at all? We moved ours into the coop for a day or two, then let them out into the yard on saturday. It took them a time or two, but at about 7:30 every night they gather up and head in. Only issue we had was when we gave half the flock to a friend. Then it was a two day "where is everyone?" Hiatus.
But long story short, i think your chickens might consider the yard home instead of the coop

 

[Rlmp817]

I have heard of people putting ‘treats’ like cracked corn in the coop for a few nights to entice them in.
Haven’t had to try it yet as mine are still in the broody box.

 

[Hteeter2]

Did you start them in the coop at all? We moved ours into the coop for a day or two, then let them out into the yard on saturday. It took them a time or two, but at about 7:30 every night they gather up and head in. Only issue we had was when we gave half the flock to a friend. Then it was a two day "where is everyone?" Hiatus.
But long story short, i think your chickens might consider the yard home instead of the coop

Started them in a brooder box outside my bedroom door on the carport. Around 3wks old I started putting them in a pen out on grass during the day, but around the time the sun goes down I put them back in the brooder box. We just finished the coop the same day they spent their first night in it.

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Ah, yeah, sounds to me lime they just need some time to get familiar with it.

 

[Hteeter2]

I have heard of people putting ‘treats’ like cracked corn in the coop for a few nights to entice them in.
Haven’t had to try it yet as mine are still in the broody box.

My Rhode Island Reds were getting too big for the brooder box, so I had to get them into the coop sooner the better. I haven't done cracked corn yet, but I do give them blueberries. However I'm not right now since I don't want purple poop in the coop. Lol!

 

[gator75]

A couple years ago I placed my first birds in the coop on the roost every night, walking them up the stairs one at a time for a week before the smartest one figured it out and the rest followed.

I just put my 6 wk old pullets in the coop/run and they followed the hens up into the coop and on to the roost after just a couple days. They enjoy it for about 20 min till my speckled Sussex terrorizes them off the roosting bar.

I guess the point is they learn better from older hens than people, but they do learn.

 

[Rlmp817]

My Rhode Island Reds were getting too big for the brooder box, so I had to get them into the coop sooner the better. I haven't done cracked corn yet, but I do give them blueberries. However I'm not right now since I don't want purple poop in the coop. Lol!