HOW to move chickens to their coop *PIC*

[Merryment]

We take about half of the chicks (the largest) and put them in their run in the morning. At dusk, they're all huddled up, so we scoop them up and put them in the coop. In the morning we open the pop hole & they find their way out. By nightfall, they know their way back into the coop. A couple days later, we put the rest of the chicks in the coop at night. They wake up, follow the other birds out and everyone is on the same page. We leave them in the run for about a week before letting them out to range about. They know where home is. We do this at about 5 weeks of age. They're little hellions!

 

[victor1800]

Maybe if you have enough room in coop put the bin they have been living in, into the coop might help........

 

[hansolo]

Thank you for the warm replies.
I read online to confine them in coop for a few days, seems cruel. Can I let them out during the day, and put them in the bin then to the coop at night?
I am getting anxious for the transition, as they will have to learn to sleep on their new roost in the coop (instead of the rim of the plastic bins).
I thought I was getting them as layers, now they are totally pets and rules me.

This is when they were 4 weeks old

And this is our coop, not very big but I am going to let them free range during the day

 

[gryeyes]

Well, if you really cannot stand keeping them locked up in the coop for a week, put up a temporary, small, run fence with chicken wire and garden stakes around the coop, keep them inside for two days, then inside that small pen for the rest of the week (or two) and then take it down.

You do need to "fix" the idea in their little brains that "This is safety, this is where we live, and sleep at night."

Good luck! They're adorable and have got YOU trained quite well, already!

 

[earnhardtlvr]

Quote:
Hi Hansolo! They r adorable! I don't get my peeps til next week and I can't wait. When the boyfriend first suggested this I was thinking cool, we'll have fresh eggs...now I'm wondering how I am going to name each one and why do they have to live out in the chicken coop...they are totally pets to me too and I haven't even got them yet! LOL Enjoy!

 

[kiplingchick]

HI! Another newbie here, and by no means an expert. (I don't even have my chicks yet) Just wanted to make sure your coop is not made of cedar. I've read on this forum that cedar is toxic to chickens.

Your birds are so cute! Makes me even more excited to get our chicks the end of next month!

 

[zengrrl]

Can I just add completely adorable!! I love the story and thanks for the pics!

 

[Chicklette 1]

They are definitely my reason for going outside every day in any kind of weather!!

 

[hansolo]

I put them in the coop tonight, without the bins!
They were reluctant to go in first because it was getting dark. So I put a LED lamp in there with treats, they went, stayed and I closed the door. They were fixed on the corn cob for a while. Then later I turned the LED lamp down. They went up to the roost and is sleeping there. Soooo cute, makes me want to snuggle with them. I must be going mad...

 

[hansolo]

Update:
For the past three days they slept on roost in their coop. In the evenings I call them to me and lead them into the coop with some treats and close the door.
Today they were out in the yard whole day. We got home around the last thread of light. I was worried, only to find that they have found home themselves and were sleeping on their roost. What amazing animals they are. I love them.