Kicked them out...now what?

[CamdenLab]

I have 9 chicks all going on 5-6 weeks of age. I could not take the dust in my house any longer. In fact, it was bothering my lungs and I couldn't stand to cook or eat in my own home. Chicken dust is a very real thing!

So, I turned my coop and run into Fort Knox and rigged the heat lamp inside the coop for overnight when the temps drop from 80 to about 60. There is food and water inside the coop and run in the event someone is stuck in or out. There is no door from the coop to the run so they can go outside whenever they choose. Which is the problem...they choose to stay inside and as far as I can tell have zero interest in venturing into the great outdoors.

Will this come with time?

Also, why are they no longer roosting? They roosted in the brooder for weeks before I moved them.

Finally, is it weird that they were awake and eating when I went to check on them at around 11pm tonight? Shouldn't they have been fast asleep (they were passed out at 10:00)?

Coop pic is from before it was 100% ready. I added lots of washers to the wire, filled in every gap with a 1x4, and did a few other things to make it safe. It sits on a foundation with buried cinder blocks under paver caps and buried wire as well.

Thanks!

Babies! The Blue Cochin is Tina Turner.

Hanging out in the heated coop on their first night.

 

[Alaskan]

Silly chickies!

I was going to say you don't need a heat lamp if they are six weeks old, and the low is 60..... But do you have only the two? Then maybe I would keep it on for one more week.

I had silly chickies one year that did not want to leave the coop. I had to pick them up, one at a time and put them outside. I actually had to lock the coop door, since those chicks wanted to run back into the coop!

I ended up having to lock them outside for a couple of hours. They had to panic, try super hard to get back into the coop, panic because they couldn't get back in, and then finally realize that nothing was eating them, then finally start to look around, and then they realized it was good to be outside.

I can't remember anymore if I had to do that more than once. It might be a bit tricky for you, if there is no way to close off that coop. Hummmmmm

Maybe you could try to coax them out with treats? Will they come for treats yet? I have a new set of chicks just a week or two older...and they don't yet come for treats, but they are starting to learn.

 

[Sandyd]

Take them outside in their run and sit in front of the door. When they start exploring around and find out they aren't going to get traumatized, they will be fine.

 

[CamdenLab]

I have 9. I know they probably don't really need the light so I'm weaning them off. They still seem to enjoy it . Hopefully by the end of the weekend.

I'm not sure how everyone else simply catches their chicks to place them on the roosts, outside, back inside, etc. For me it takes forever and everyone freaks out! Does everyone else have chicks that stand there when you go to pick them up? Are mine wild? They eat from my hands and a few like to be pet but picking them up is another story.

 

[shellyjimrye]

Ok... your last post made me giggle. My chicks by no means like to be picked up or "caught". They also lose their minds as if they are going to be slaughtered. When mine first had access to the outside, I had to chase them all out of the coop. Then when they were all out, they huddled in a big pack not moving.. then I had to (with the help of my hubby) catch and put them back inside one by one. The next day I just left their door open. One by one, they would come out, step onto the grass, lose it! Freak out! run back inside, repeat process. Now fast forward to nearly two weeks and as soon as I open the door to the run, they STAMPEDE out. I have to chase a couple stubborn few back into the coop each night but now it is routine and they are fine. They will learn. With the new transition, I would give them a bit of time and then as others said, force them out to face the fear and soon you too will have your birds loving the outdoors as well.

 

[CrazyPetunias]

You're not alone. I have to chase mine each time too. It helps to have backup. My kids and the dog help me to corner the chicks and grab them. The dog won't bite the chickens but he loves to chase them....comes in handy at times

 

[jtbrown]

Agree with the above. My first set of chickens were friendly, but then my kids were little and we checked on them incessantly. Now, they either come as day olds or my broody hens hatch them, and I find they tolerate me touching/picking up/moving them even less. You would think I was dragging them to slaughter as described above with the squawking that goes on if I pick them up, or even stoop to deal with something at ground level.

I have had birds not roost until they were beyond laying age, what gives? I have no idea. I have a set of white leghorns that I was "gifted" from the local TSC due to them picking on each other that were up on 4 foot roosts as soon as they could fly to them. So, good luck, they will get used to it, the longer they are in their coop/run.

 

[CamdenLab]

It's good to hear that I am not raising wild chickens! I live alone and not only does that make it difficult to catch the chicks but I also have not figured out how to rig the run door so I don't get myself locked in. Unfortunately my dog is way too big to be running around in the chicken run. He would probably destroy it.

I'm hoping they will go out on their own. I'm thinking of taking their beloved coffee cup of goodies and letting them watch me sprinkle it outside instead of inside the coop for them. Maybe that'll motivate them? They do seem to think with their stomachs.

When I got home from work yesterday there was one lone chick outside. Honestly, I think she may have fallen out. If she did fall it was not far. She was fine. And she was having a nice time instead of freaking out which surprised me. Catching her, on the other hand, was a nightmare. I had to keep the door from closing on me and locking me in all the while chasing her around and keeping her away from the door that was partially open while also yelling at my dog who was getting too excited about the chase. Ugh! I put her inside through the chicken door so maybe she will get it and lead the others. She's an Amerucana and I'm finding they are a little odd so maybe not...

At least I'm partway through cleaning my house and ridding of the disgusting chick dust!

 

[CrazyPetunias]

You should try using a long stick or broom handle to help guide your birds where you want them to go. It is really helpful when trying to move them in a certain direction or out of a corner they keep running circles around

 

[CamdenLab]

Well, they all ended up outside today on their very own and are in heaven! This evening is going to be very interesting...