lock up

Last summer's girls didn't have to be locked in the coop. I had a small run as part of the tractor for them, and when they were out in the yard, they would return to the run because that is were the treats and food were. When I moved them to the bigger coop and run in October, they learned in a hurry where "home" was when they were out in the yard.

I have an ill chicken (laying problems, I think) and as she recovers, she is living in the tractor. When I dragged it back to the yard yesterday, she was in the garden, and she came running to the baby coop from last summer. I swear she remembered it. I am keeping her separate from her sisters until she is stronger, but right now she is sleeping on the outside of the fence where the others are. I think she is lonely even though they attack her if they are all out. But I drift from the topic.

If you have a coop/run situation, keeping them in the run for a while wouldn't be a bad idea though.

 

I moved my 32 buff orps out to their coop at two weeks old and didn't even let them out in their run area for the first couple of weeks. Then I would let them out in their run in the afternoons and close them up at dark. They are seven weeks old today and this past weekend I did not close their run door so they could come in and out as they wish. They are staying outside almost all the time and loving it, but by me keeping them in their coop for the first few weeks they now know where to roost and its the only place where there's food. I would keep them in their coop for a week or so.

Buffs only

 

I plan on keeping mine cooped up for about a week before letting them out, just to make sure they know to come in at night. I want them familiar and comfortable with the coop before I let them range.

 

I have done that with my very first chickens.
I actually had them in there for more than 2 weeks even if i dont think you have to leave them in there for so long.
Then I let them out in the outside area of the coop which has chicken wire everywhere for a week and now I have them in a free range of aproximately 1 acre of land.
I let them free range from morning till dawn and then they go back inside the coop section.All I do is close the door so no nasty predator enters.