Movin pullets to big girl coop?

[sfgwife]

We have 13 week old pullets. The coop will be done by wednesday.... is there a better time of the day to put them in it? At night stick em on the roost when we have sleepy birds? And just makin sure we are up early enough to let them out when they get up so they din't freak out over their new digs. Or durin the day so they can run amok and shoo them into the coop at night? Right now they are in a chicken tractor and are bein normal chickens. They all go to the roost bars at night. We really do not want to confine them to the coop for days like suggested. It is quite hot here and they are used to bein on the grass (not free range) and just doin what chickens do in general. Their coop and run is all covered so not concerned about them not knowin where "home" is when we move them... other than probably havin to get them to go in at night for a few nights.

 

[lazy gardener]

How many birds, how big is the coop and the run? I'm assuming that there are no older birds that they will need to integrate with? If the coop/run are enclosed, I'd simply put them in the run in the morning, and perhaps try to entice them into the coop with some scratch. Or you could put them in the coop, and leave the pop door open for them, and let them discover the run on their own. You will need to put them into the coop in the evening for a few days until they get the hang of putting themselves to bed. Is the coop very well ventilated? Is your set up predator proof? 1/2" hdw cloth over all coop openings that you could push a quarter through???

 

[sfgwife]

Coop and run pics. On coop that is a very human sized door. No older hens to integrate with. I dont know how big either is. Hubby did all the maths. But coop could be a tinny human house. Ok asked the man.. house is 100 sq ft. Run 3000sq ft. 17 birds goin in. Coop openings all have cloth in them. Ventilation is up top all way around, up top on sides is the roof triangle ventilations, two windows over nest box, two windows in back, other side has two pop doors with cloth on doors. Cloth in all windows. Run has cloth buried a foot and a skirt buried also and chicken wire atop cloth then bird netting above.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like a nice set up. I would move them to the coop during the day, have feed and water available to them. Depending on temperature inside coop, you could keep them in there all day, and the first night, then let them out into the run in the morning. You will still have to put them to bed at night if they can't figure it out themselves!