How to get chickens to lay in their new coop? HELP!!!

[neilshaw1980]

Hiya

I have just bought a new coop for my hens, they only went in last night so im not expecting them to use it yet but im not sure if i should block off their old egg laying area (which i did but i have reopened it up as they seem to be getting anxious and stressed) or should i move their eggs into their new nest boxes in the hope of them deciding to lay in there.

I would very grateful for any help as we are quite new to chicken keeping.

Thanks

 

[Fred's Hens]

Whenever you make any change, a chicken stresses about it, it seems.

Just a suggestion. Whenever I bring home new chickens, or make a major change or whatever, I lock the birds in the coop for a few days. This forces them to become familiar and, perhaps, even bored with their "new" surroundings. It's becomes home to them. A layer has to adopt their new surroundings and make it their own. I don't want new hens laying off site. I don't enjoy Easter egg hunts. A stressed hen isn't a good layer, either.

 

[neilshaw1980]

Thank you for your reply, would I need to add some kind of run to give them some outside time for those few days or is it ok to just leave them in the coop? Sorry if thats a silly question just don't want to get it wrong.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes, a run is an extension of the coop, ie, an exterior portion of the coop.

Allowing new birds, or birds not yet acclimated to their coop, to free range is asking for off site egg laying, not returning to roost at night, etc. When they lay in their coop boxes and returning to the roosts are behaviors that demonstrate the birds have committed to the coop as their own.