How to get these ladies in the coop?

[6hensinfortclux]

We bought 6 hens from Craigslist - three dominique and three easter eggers 17 weeks old. They've free ranged until dark and then put into a coop with 15 other hens. We have no way of free-ranging here and they've got their coop with two nesting boxes and a long roost. The attached run is 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide. There's also a roost in this area that is 2 feet off the ground.

The girls won't let me touch them unless I catch them - especially if they're on the roost. This is their second night here and we've had a fun time chasing and catching at night. Otherwise they get up on the roost there in the run close to dark time. Though we've tried to make the run predator proof I'd feel safer with them in the coop at night, plus I thought they should be in the coop to try to help them know where to lay when that begins.

I don't know what to do - this is my first time ever having chickens in my life and i'm lost. I read for hours before getting them and thought I was ready and now I'm overwhelmed scared I'm going to kill my ladies! It's like I'm a new mother again, sheesh!

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Some folks recommend confining the chickens in the coop for a few days, feeding and watering them there so that they get used to the place so it feels like "home". That way they will go inside when night falls. I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but I'd be concerned about how hot it would get in a closed coop here right now. With my first batch of pullets, I put a light in the coop when I first moved them out of the garage and into their "big girl" home. They were pretty quick...maybe a 1 or 2 nights before they got the hang of it.

I added two new pullets to the group this March, and for the first week or so I always found the big girls inside the coop at night and the new girls huddled together on TOP of the pop door. I just tucked them into the coop, on the shelf over the nesting boxes instead of on the roost with the big girls and shut off the light. It took maybe a week...maybe close to two before they got the idea and went in by themselves. I figure it was more difficult for them because they were scared of the big girls. They still spend their nights on the shelf instead of on the roost.

If I were you, I'd try the light in the coop. If nothing else, it will give you a bit of light to work with when you are chasing your new chickens around at bed time. During the day, start visiting them a few times a day with special treats and in time they will probably be running towards you when you come instead of away.

Good luck!

 

[HEChicken]

Generally it is a good idea to lock them in the coop for a week so they know where "home" is, and then when you let them out, they will know to return home at night. At this time of year it might be too hot to leave them locked in the coop during the day but if that is a possibility for you, that is the first thing I would try.

 

[cboriskin]

I agree. Leave them in the coop for a few days so they know it's home. My girls automatically go into the coop to roost at dusk. Most of the time they follow me in because they think I have food. At the beginning, I threw out scratch, meal worms or other treat to get them in.

 

[6hensinfortclux]

We're in Alabama and it's 95 in the daytime here. Locking em in the coop needs to be the last resort I'm afraid.

It's only 36 hours since we bought them...hopefully they'll get it soon. I'm just feeling overwhelmed I guess with all the things I don't know.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

We're in Alabama and it's 95 in the daytime here. Locking em in the coop needs to be the last resort I'm afraid.

It's only 36 hours since we bought them...hopefully they'll get it soon. I'm just feeling overwhelmed I guess with all the things I don't know.

We've all been there. That's the cool thing about this forum. There always seems to be someone willing to help.

 

[6hensinfortclux]

oy vey - it's kind of like having children again - you read and research and then when you actually have them you realize that no amount of research and reading prepares you!

I went from two kids to eight overnight!

 

[HEChicken]

We're in Alabama and it's 95 in the daytime here. Locking em in the coop needs to be the last resort I'm afraid.

It's only 36 hours since we bought them...hopefully they'll get it soon.

I'm kind of in the same boat. I've had my flock for years but just moved them, this past weekend, to our new property, so it is all new to them. And, temps are in the 90's all week so I don't want to end up with heat related issues. I did leave them locked in the coop Monday but took pity and let some of them out yesterday. A few elected to stay in. Even just the one day locked in did seem to reinforce that it was home and I noticed them hanging around the door when they wanted to be let in (my automatic door was just delivered yesterday and is not installed yet so their only way in and out is via the people door). I was pleased that when they wanted to lay an egg, they queued up outside the door waiting to be let in and then made for the nest boxes immediately I opened the door. This morning I have left the door propped open so they can come and go as they please and we'll see how that turns out.