How to train your birds to use a new coop

cupman

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Is anyone else experiencing difficulties with this? I have this coop I built late last year that is 12'x10'. I also have a really old coop that my birds originally used. I have about 40 birds total now, it was the reason I had to build the 12'x10' coop in the first place. My problem is that the birds start to freak out at night when they can't return to their normal coop.

I built a fence. It's 7 feet tall and covers a 60'x40' perimeter around my new coop. It has been difficult, but I am finally seeing progress with last night being the first night the chickens put themselves to bed in the new coop(this was night 4). However, my oldest birds that have lived in their original coop for the past year and a half are having the biggest problems. At sun down they pace frantically trying to get out and eventually they will fly into the fence and sort of climb it until they get over. They then sprint to their old coop.

Will they ever learn to use their new coop or do you think because they have lived in the old coop for so long that they aren't likely to take up residence in a new coop?
 
You could lock them up in the new coop for a few weeks & see if they get use to the new coop. I would of left the original flock in their original coop & put the new birds in the new coop & left them locked up for awhile so they know where their new home is. Guess, chickens are like people they hate to move at least I do.
 
just chase the chickens into the new coop every night. exacly what 7l farm said.
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Clip their wings, only one, they will not be able to fly over and will learn that this is our new home. You could also use scratch to encourage them to go in and lock them up real fast.
 

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