Introducing the new coop

[jayceesue]

So we repurposed an old shooting shack into a chicken coop. Our four hens were divided into two small prefab coops. I closed the two small coops and hoped they would go into the new coop. Nope! They lined up at their small coops waiting for me to let them in. I let them go into their old coops tonight.

How do I get them to start using their new digs?

 

[DobieLover]

So we repurposed an old shooting shack into a chicken coop. Our four hens were divided into two small prefab coops. I closed the two small coops and hoped they would go into the new coop. Nope! They lined up at their small coops waiting for me to let them in. I let them go into their old coops tonight.

How do I get them to start using their new digs?

View attachment 2395867

You'll need to lock them into their new coop for a few days and remove the old ones.

 

[RebelEgger]

I’m sure a member with more experience will come along with advice, but maybe they need to be locked inside the new coop for a few days to learn that it’s home? Or remove the option of going into the old coops by taking them away? I hope the girls figure it out soon, good luck!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Congratulations!!
Keeping them locked in the new coop will allow them to know where their new home is. While they are locked inside, you can remove the old ones so they won't try to get into the old coops.

 

[jayceesue]

You'll need to lock them into their new coop for a few days and remove the old ones.

Lock them inside the building? These hens free range in a one acre fenced area all day. Is there something else to try other than locking them inside a building all day BBC and night?

 

[Chickie friend]

Lock them inside the building? These hens free range in a one acre fenced area all day. Is there something else to try other than locking them inside a building all day BBC and night?

I switched coops for my silkies and every night I took them out of the other coop and out them in the new one. In about 3 weeks they started to go in the new coop by themselves.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Lock them inside the building? These hens free range in a one acre fenced area all day. Is there something else to try other than locking them inside a building all day BBC and night?

Then try just locking them out of the old ones/removing them, and go out and pick them up at night (they'll gather near the old location) and manually put them in the new one. You'll need to do it daily until they figure it out.