Is this normal???

[Joesplace]

Hello everybody, I'm a new backyard hen owner with very little knowledge on chicken care.

I received a Barred Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte and a New Hampshire Red started pullet this week from McMurray Hatchery. They are very healthy but have been in the coop for almost 4 days now. They poke their head out and look around but won’t venture out.

My question is, is this normal or should I force the issue. They have a 12'x4 run with water and food so should I evict them from the coop during the day. Temp here is in the high 80's so it is a little warm with 85% humidity . . .

Thanks!

Forgot to say I even made a trail of scratch grains going outside but they won't follow. They stop at the coop door.

 

[Naser]

Don't force them out
If you like you can put some treats in the run and see if they will come out
They will come out eventually

 

[Ridgerunner]

Maybe not totally normal but then what chicken is? You’ll get used to them not being normal. That’s part of what makes chick TV better than anything on network, cable, or satellite TV.

Sometimes when I open the pop door so the chicks can go from the coop to the run all the chicks are in the run within 15 minutes. That’s not normal either. Sometimes I have chicks that act like yours, taking days to get outside. What’s closest to normal is that they spend hours, maybe even until the next day, just looking out but not venturing out. But eventually an adventurous one or two will hop out to check it out. It may only stay in the run a few minutes the first time or the others may soon follow it outside. Once this starts they should soon be spending most of their time in the run and not in the coop. At least most of my broods do it this way. Each different brood of chicks is unique in their own ways.

Something else you may observe. Sometimes the chicks go back into the coop at night on their own. But often some or all will gather outside to sleep at night, normally near the door but not always. After it is dark and they have settled in for the night you may need to physically put them in the coop. This usually isn’t that hard after it is dark enough but it can be frustrating. Some catch on really quickly that they need to go inside at night, some may take weeks to get the message. Again, each brood is different.

One that I wish I’d caught on film. A few years back I had a group of 16 that decided to sleep outside at the door the first night so I put them all inside and locked them up. The next night I was down in that area doing something else just as they started settling in for the night. They were already about all in their pile just outside the door when they saw me coming. They stood up and started filing into the coop by themselves. I never had any more of these problems with that brood. I’ve tried that since and it has not worked. Each brood really are different.

So yes. Just be patient. They will figure it out.

 

[Joesplace]

Ridgerunner and Naser - thanks for the words of wisdom. Guess I will just be patient and wait it out . . .
Joe

 

[JanetS]

Joesplace - Just make sure they are getting plenty of food and water and they'll be fine. How old are they?

 

[Joesplace]

Well after 8 days they finally came out! They are 16 weeks old and are doing great and stay out all day but go in by themselves at dark. Good chicks . . .

 

[JanetS]

Yay! Glad to hear that.