Movin Coops

[proxieme]

We have four adult hens - two EEs and two Welsies - with each laying an egg a day.

Well.
We just finished a beautiful new coop.
Montage:

Their old coop was a teeny-tiny, max 4-hen house.
I went out to check on them this morning and found no eggs. Very unusual.
They used to be done by about 9am.
At about 3pm, I let them out to free range.
They all ran over to their old coop and practically got in line to lay in the same box.
15 minutes later, we had 4 eggs.

So, some questions:
* How long will it take them to get used to their new, comparatively lavish digs?
* Should I disallow free ranging until they lay in their new boxes?
* If I allow them to free range, should I block off their old coop?
(In a few weeks, our 4 new chicks will move into it until they beef up.)

Thanks!

 

[proxieme]

*bump*

 

[Mehjr10]

They will probably want to go back to the old home, until they get used to the new spot. You may want to keep them in the new location for a couple of days. Then you may still have to guide them home the first couple of times... they will catch on fairly quickly..

 

[proxieme]

I'll do that.

It just surprised me how quickly they booked it and laid some eggs, like they'd been crossing their little chicken legs all day

 

[Mehjr10]

Hard to hold them back, they may adjust well to coming back home. I moved some youngsters in with the main flock during the winter and for about 3 days they kept wanting to go back to the tractor and not the coop. So I would scoop them all up and put them in the coop. They finally got he hang of it.