Juvinial chicks won't leave the coop

[HarmonyHen]

My little chicks are reluctant to leave the coop as well. I have 6 7-wo peeps that have been in the coop for 10 days. For the last 4-5 days they have had the option to leave and venture into the run (which has a roof), but only on one day have I seen them in the run and it was only for a short time. I am not always outside, so its possible that they have gone out without my knowledge, but every time I go out to check on them, they are inside. Their food and water are inside, but I have some outside as well. My older girls free range all day, so perhaps the peeps are enjoying the time to themselves inside, and they feel safe in there. I'm sure they will start to venture out soon, but they are still so little that I'm OK with them staying inside for now.

When the time comes that they need to be outside more, I will stop keeping food and water inside.

 

[newmarch2014]

Chickens hate change, and are afraid of new things so yes going outside is scary. I forced mine out, gave them some treats and closed the door so they had to stay in the run for a few hours (food and water available) then they made use of the yard immediately the next day when I opened the door.

 

[becy]

Clemsonchickfan, my coop is raised, but only about 18". I have the underneath part secured as run space but I have it boarded up for now. I was afraid they'd hide under there and be too scared to come out again to go up the ramp back into the coop. I left no access door (oops) and so I can't get under there. So I thought I'd open that up later once they get used to the run and familiar with going back up the ramp to get back to the coop.

After finishing the coop and run I was kind of jonesin for a project so I'll look at building them a little roofed area for the feeder. The coop and run sit in a wooded area so they are never in direct sun, but that's no help for rain (or snow). I was also thinking come winter I'll need a sheltered area out of the snow so it will be a perfect dual purpose set up. Thanks for the idea!

azygous, I have 3 bantams pullets total. Looks like feeder out of the coop is the consensus. Is this recommended for the winter too?

Thank you for the great, really interesting information. I'm learning a lot about my new little livestock

 

[newmarch2014]

I admittedly have the premium coop and run set up (my husband is Amazing). They have a 4x8 coop that the pop door exits to the covered part of their run (which is 10 feet tall and the cover extends out in a 5x10 area) so I am able to leave their food out in the run because it stays dry as long as it is in the middle of the covered area. If we have blowing rain or snow then the edges of the covered area get too damp. I say all that to say this....you need enough of a cover over the food to avoid having it wet in blowing wind or snow as well as easy for you to reach to feed. Even with this set up I have asked Mr Amazing to build me a feeder with a covered top just to keep them from pooping in it since mine now just sits on blocks on the run floor and occassionally gets pooped on.