danpicshe
Hatching
- Apr 3, 2015
- 2
- 0
- 7
Hi all,
My family and I just received four beautiful six week old hens a few days ago. I'm in love already, but my sweet little babies are scared to death. I have been researching for months and felt pretty prepared. But, its like being a new mom all over again. Right? I want to hold them, but they are scared and I don't want to traumatize them. I want to keep them safe and have taken every precaution to do that. However, I am having difficulty getting them locked up for the night. It takes me about an hour every night to get them up into there secured little area. They huddle into the corner of the coop where I can't reach them. I've tried luring them with oats, meal worms, etc… But, they scared to death!! The past two nights I have spent chasing my chickens through the yard. My husband was so upset he went to right to bed after the whole fiasco. Let's just say, he wasn't' thrilled about the idea of having chickens.
The area in the top of the coop has a 2x2 opening, but I block it off every night to keep them contained. Am I crazy to try to get them into this area every night? Will they eventually find their way up the ramp? Please help! I work out on a regular basis, but I'm not training in the way Rocky was!
I would love some advice!
Best,
Danielle
My family and I just received four beautiful six week old hens a few days ago. I'm in love already, but my sweet little babies are scared to death. I have been researching for months and felt pretty prepared. But, its like being a new mom all over again. Right? I want to hold them, but they are scared and I don't want to traumatize them. I want to keep them safe and have taken every precaution to do that. However, I am having difficulty getting them locked up for the night. It takes me about an hour every night to get them up into there secured little area. They huddle into the corner of the coop where I can't reach them. I've tried luring them with oats, meal worms, etc… But, they scared to death!! The past two nights I have spent chasing my chickens through the yard. My husband was so upset he went to right to bed after the whole fiasco. Let's just say, he wasn't' thrilled about the idea of having chickens.
The area in the top of the coop has a 2x2 opening, but I block it off every night to keep them contained. Am I crazy to try to get them into this area every night? Will they eventually find their way up the ramp? Please help! I work out on a regular basis, but I'm not training in the way Rocky was!I would love some advice!
Best,
Danielle
and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new flock! If you can lock them in the area they are supposed to be for a few days, so they get used to being there/ sleeping there and considering it home, they should go back on their own at night. If the place where they should be going in the coop is dark when they should be going in, you may need to put in windows or a light. Make sure the ramp is something they are easily able to go up and down on. Do be sure the roosts themselves are comfortable for chickens. If you can, it might be helpful to post pictures in the Coops section, people may be able to see if anything is going on that would make them adverse to going inside. 
