introducing a new coop

[graciesmum]

I have finished my new coop today and I want my girls to use it tonight, should I just shut old coop up so they can't in, and then hope they go in new one, or should I let them choose?

 

[Keltara]

Chickens are creatures of habit. If you close up their current coop, they will just sleep outside of it. In order for them to know that the new coop is "home', they need to be put into it. Ideally, if you can lock them in for a few days to a week so they realize this is home, would give best results. You will most likely need to put them to bed in their new coop (thorough the pop door) for a while before they learn.

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Kelly

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Our Country Chronicles

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[graciesmum]

The one went ti bed in it, I found the other 4 huddled together outside, so picked them up one by one and put then through pop door, not sure if I want them to stay in for a week bless them lol

 

[graciesmum]

Also I have one girl who if she is in the house the others won't go in, and if the others are in there she won't go in, so what is gona happen if I **** them up for a few days?

 

[slabcrappy]

My girls took 3 nights to catch on after I carried them. I allowed them to go into the old coop and roost, then I carried then manually, one by one, into the new coop every night. 3 nights later, they automatically went into their new digs on their own. I was pretty happy!!!

 

[robhen]

I woulda lured them in with some chicken scratch thrown by the door. Or some tasty wheat bread.

 

[graciesmum]

Ok thank you I will try that tonite, as I don't really wana keep them in

 

[robhen]

How did it go Gracie's mum?

 

[graciesmum]

Two of my girls take them selves to bed in the new coop, but I have to go put the other 3 in, im a bit confused because they go in and out all day, and they lay eggs in the new coop, but I still have to put them to bed lol, also none of my girls roost is this normal?

 

[robhen]

I'm not sure if it is normal. However none of my girls roost. They sit on shelves. And a couple fly up to the cabinet in their coop and hide out in there. They seem happy in their new hen house. It took them a week or so for them to put themselves in their new place. And we made a chicken door beside the human door and last week we kept the human door closed because of rainy weather and only opened chicken door. Those darn chickens let themselves out but when it came to bedtime they went to their old coop. It's been 2 months since they have used that. Guess they were confused. Did ya try throwing chicken treat by new coop entrance before sun goes down?