How to get chicks (4weeks) to go into the coop?

[JenDavis83]

I got chickens with my house I just bought. The day I moved in chicks hatched. Since the chickens don’t know me they are a little skittish around me. So I’ve never been able to catch the chicks. The mom has never let them in the coop ( they stay in the run). They are 4 weeks old now and the mom went in the coop, but they did not. My husband locked them up but didn’t see the chicks were hiding in the run. This am I went out to let the flock out and the chicks were outside the run snuggled together. Thankfully all still alive but I want them in the coop locked up. I don’t know how to get them to go in the coop and it’s stressing me out. Any ideas to help?

 

[cherrynberry]

I got chickens with my house I just bought. The day I moved in chicks hatched. Since the chickens don’t know me they are a little skittish around me. So I’ve never been able to catch the chicks. The mom has never let them in the coop ( they stay in the run). They are 4 weeks old now and the mom went in the coop, but they did not. My husband locked them up but didn’t see the chicks were hiding in the run. This am I went out to let the flock out and the chicks were outside the run snuggled together. Thankfully all still alive but I want them in the coop locked up. I don’t know how to get them to go in the coop and it’s stressing me out. Any ideas to help?

If the hen is broody, she will "cluck" and call the chicks to follow her. So if you feed the hen, the hen will call her chicks, this helps the chicks to know where she is and follow her. Is the coop above ground? Some chicks have a hard time going on a ramp.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you find them out in the run alone again, wait until dark and you should be able to pick them up and put them inside the coop. You may need to do this for several nights until they figure it out.

Is the coop above ground? Some chicks have a hard time going on a ramp.

x2. Does your coop have a ramp? If so, how steep is it?

 

[Mamatomany123]

I usually just place then in for a few nights until they get it. My current 4 week olds just follow the bug girls. Since they won't let you touch them maybe try a small light in the coop. They'll be drawn to the light.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I’ve had to go chick catching several times for every batch of chicks I’ve ever had. I agree with giving mama food because she will cluck. It usually gets some of the chicks in the coop. After that I have a second person help me herd then catch them. If I was alone I’d probably wait til dark. Usually it takes 3-4x of this before they really grasp the concept.

 

[Swbertrand1]

It appears the momma hen has determined it's time for them to be on their own, which is normal. However, putting them straight into the coop might not be the best place for them right now, especially if there are other adult hens or roosters in the coop. Adult hens and roosters can easily kill 4wk-old chicks and do regularly.

Can you set up a separate area of the coop just for them, maybe in a nest box that can be closed off from the rest of the coop? You could deposit them in there in the evenings, but you'll have to let them out in the mornings too. You could also set up a brooder for them and keep them separate from the adults until they get a little size on them and can defend themselves (or flee) a little better. 4 weeks is still quite young.

If the coop is your only choice, try enticing them to come to you with some treats (mealworms work well, dried corn, yogurt, whatever works). Pick the chick(s) up and show them the ramp, then move them up that ramp just above the surface while you continue to hold them. Move slowly so they can take in what they're being taught. We've used this method with success, but it takes a few days for them to get it right. Even after they know where they're supposed to go, they sometimes forget and need a refresher lesson.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It appears the momma hen has determined it's time for them to be on their own, which is normal. However, putting them straight into the coop might not be the best place for them right now, especially if there are other adult hens or roosters in the coop. Adult hens and roosters can easily kill 4wk-old chicks and do regularly.

Can you set up a separate area of the coop just for them, maybe in a nest box that can be closed off from the rest of the coop? You could deposit them in there in the evenings, but you'll have to let them out in the mornings too. You could also set up a brooder for them and keep them separate from the adults until they get a little size on them and can defend themselves (or flee) a little better. 4 weeks is still quite young.

If the coop is your only choice, try enticing them to come to you with some treats (mealworms work well, dried corn, yogurt, whatever works). Pick the chick(s) up and show them the ramp, then move them up that ramp just above the surface while you continue to hold them. Move slowly so they can take in what they're being taught. We've used this method with success, but it takes a few days for them to get it right. Even after they know where they're supposed to go, they sometimes forget and need a refresher lesson.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Four weeks isn’t the normal age for chicks to be weened from their mom. More like 6-8 weeks. However if some of her chicks are in the coop and some aren’t, or if none of them made it in and it’s too dark for her to see, mama hen will not go back out for the chicks.

The only time I had a mom give up on her chicks at four weeks was when I did a side by side hatch and the dominate broody became an outright terror to the other hen to the point she abandoned her chicks. They cried for days and days. The rest of the flock also didn’t hurt them. When chicks are weened at an appropriate age they do not cry and naturally start drifting further from mom during the day over a period of time.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Four weeks isn’t the normal age for chicks to be weened from their mom. More like 6-8 weeks. However if some of her chicks are in the coop and some aren’t, or if none of them made it in and it’s too dark for her to see, mama hen will not go back out for the chicks.

The only time I had a mom give up on her chicks at four weeks was when I did a side by side hatch and the dominate broody became an outright terror to the other hen to the point she abandoned her chicks. They cried for days and days. The rest of the flock also didn’t hurt them. When chicks are weened at an appropriate age they do not cry and naturally start drifting further from mom during the day over a period of time.

I agree with you on the timeline - just seems that this hen is leaving them ALL outside...

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I agree with you on the timeline - just seems that this hen is leaving them ALL outside...

Idk my very best broody somehow always leaves chicks out of the coop. Idk if her bird brain is telling her it’s survival of the fittest or what.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Idk my very best broody somehow always leaves chicks out of the coop. Idk if her bird brain is telling her it’s survival of the fittest or what.

We've had that happen too - think you're right though...