How long should my adult hens stay in the coop?

[quarterhorsemom]

I’m a new chicken owner and just brought home my first flock of 6 hens! I’ve read that they should be kept in the coop 24 hours after being brought home to make sure they understand where home is, and some places have said longer. What do you advise? I have a large run and also plan on free ranging them supervised.

 

[DucklingLover232]

We did two days for ours and they don't go far. Welcome to being a chicken owner good luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

2 days should be fine, I wouldn't free range until they're reliably putting themselves in at night from the run.

 

[ColoradoPip]

With an enclosed run my girls went into the coop on their own from day 1 outside, at 8 weeks old. I didn't lock them in, just moved them out in the morning, spent time making sure they were good, then let them be chickens. When evening came I watched them each head into the coop. Maybe I got lucky. With an enclosed run they will look for a safe place, which a coop provides. That's my one time experience, might not work in all situations. Seems better to try it than lock them up for days.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Read my response in this thread. The ages are different but everything else applies.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ts-on-day-1-what-to-do.1359982/#post-22423685

 

[Mrs. K]

If your run is attached to the coop, I would not worry about it. Generally you may have to help at dark a day or two, but the coop should be the natural choice to sleep. If you have a ramp, it might be tricky learning that. Once mine have slept in a coop, they tend to return there.