Moving 10 week pullets to the coop

[puddleglumWI]

Good Morning,

I have six 10 week old pullet Cream Legbars I will be moving to the chicken tractor this weekend. Building the tractor took longer than I expected and they are definitely ready to be out of that cramped brooder.

The tractor has a coop area with laying boxes secured by an ADOR automatic door. I want to get the girls onto grass as quickly as possible, but also think it would be good if they are used to the secure area and want to return to it at night rather than sleeping on the ground in the run area.

I was thinking I should keep them in the coop area for while with food and water in there, and then open the door at some point.

Does this seem reasonable?
How long should I keep them in there before letting them out into the run?

Thank you,
-pg

 

[swamphiker]

It sounds like you have a good plan in place since it might take them a little while to get the hang of going in and out at night. In my experience, the desire to roost somewhere high at night is pretty strong in pullets by the time they are that age, so it might not take more than a couple of days. After you give them access to the run, make sure to be extra vigilant for the next couple of weeks while they are still getting getting used to going in and out at night.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does this seem reasonable?
How long should I keep them in there before letting them out into the run?

This is exactly what many of us would suggest. Typically a week is enough to train them to go in there at night.

But be out there at bedtime to make sure they make it back inside. Sometimes that week may not be enough. Sometimes they get confused and need help. It somewhat depends on what your facilities look like but an excellent overall plan.

 

[puddleglumWI]

Are they old enough to start using a roosting bar, 17" above the floor, or will they be sleeping on the floor of the coop for a while still?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are they old enough to start using a roosting bar, 17" above the floor, or will they be sleeping on the floor of the coop for a while still?

They will do what they want to do. With no adults around I've had chicks start sleeping on the roosts as young as 5 weeks. I've had some wait until 14 weeks or after. Most of mine seem to start sleeping on the roosts at night around 10 to 12 weeks of age but that can vary. Some of the timing for mine may depend on what the coop and roosts look like.

When they are in the main coop with the adults I've had broody hens take their chicks to the roosts as young as two weeks, though 4 to 5 weeks is more normal. With the adults in with them I've had chicks not start sleeping on the roosts with the adults until after 5 months of age.

By two weeks of age your chicks should be able to fly a lot higher than 17" if they want to unless you have chickens like Silkies that can't fly. Whether they can or cannot is not the issue, it is whether they want to. Often mine will play on the roosts during the day and still sleep in a group on the floor.

By two weeks of age the chicks "can" sleep on my tree limb roosts if they want to. The ones with those broody hens did. Some people like to train them to sleep on the roosts. After it is too dark for them to fly down set some on the roosts. Before too long they should start putting themselves to bed up there. Once one or two start the others soon follow. I personally don't.

Good luck!

 

[puddleglumWI]

Good to know, thanks for the info all