Moved the heat source...crazy birds

[robtaylorart]

Yesterday I moved the heat source in my coop to try to get my young ladies to start sleeping in the nesting box area of the coop. When it was time for bed, they'd all gone back inside to the same corner they always huddle in instead of the nesting boxes directly under where I moved the heat lamps (ceramic bulbs) to. I tried to guide them but they were in too much of a panic and too confused to follow my direction.

Any suggestions for teaching them to sleep someplace new?? This wasn't so difficult with my toddler. Why are the chickens being like this?

 

[PineSummit]

Don't be discouraged if they didn't stay where you wanted them to the first night. It usually takes time before they get used to something. When I first introduced my flock into the coop, they only slept on the floor. Then after a while (a week or so) one brave bird decided to go up onto the roosts and eventually they all followed, but it did take some time.

Just be patient and they'll start to stay where you want them to.

 

[DanEP]

It will take them awhile to get used to their new home. They will to learn to roost but it will take awhile, it just takes them some time to get used to new things. You didn't say how old your girls are but if their not laying you might want to close off the nest boxes till their in the habit of roosting on there own. It's easier if they never get into the habit of sleeping in the boxes than trying to break them of the habit later and chickens sleeping in their boxes = dirty eggs unless you clean the boxes every day.Just make sure the roost is higher than the nest boxes because they like to sleep as high up as they can and if the boxes are higher their going to sleep there.
If you want to you can go into the coop after dark and move them up to the roost till they get the hang of it but it has to be dark when you do this because if they can still see they probably won;t stay there. I don't bother anymore because they will learn on their own it just takes a little longer.

 

[donrae]

I'm also not sure why you want them to sleep in the nesting boxes? That's a habit most of us try to break, not encourage.

How old are your birds?

 

[aart]

I'm also not sure why you want them to sleep in the nesting boxes? That's a habit most of us try to break, not encourage.

How old are your birds?

Ditto.......

....plus those ceramic bulbs don't radiate heat to a large enough area anyway.