moving chicks to coop Q's

[bosoxbratt]

Hi there
We are going to be putting our babies in thier new coop fairly soon and I want ed to make sure we are going to be doing it all right
I have read on here that you are suppose to put them in the coop part for about a week before letting them out of it into a run part? I guess so they get used to their home area?

We are going to be going on a trip in about 2 weeks and my mom will be pet sitting/house sitting for us so we thought it would be a good time to have the chicks out in their coop by then as we have one golden comet who gets out of the pen in the house at times she will jut sit on top of it but still she is getting out LOL

Any steps we need to do before putting them out there once it is all done ?
Would it be ok if during the day if it is warm for them to go to the attached run to thier coop or better to leave them in the coop for the whole week as I have read? It just seems kind of sad for them to be locked in there the whole time

TY for any info

 

[jawinder]

Leaving them in their new coop for a week will help them learn that this is their new home.
I did it last year with my new chicks. They were fine. I used that week to put roosts inside, and watch where they liked to go, adding more roosts.
Even after the week, it took quite a while to train them how to get back inside at night. Sometimes I'd find them huddled under or next to their little ramp!

 

[flgardengirl]

I guess I did it all backwards then- but it worked lol. I would take them out to the run for awhile during the day and gradually expanded the time until they were out there all day. The first night I wanted them to stay in thier coop, I hung a small l.e.d. flashlight from the ceiling and put thier food and water in thier coop in the evening when it started getting dark out.
The first night to stay in the coop, none of them wanted anything to do with that. They all piled up by the gate of thier run and whined. I put them all in the coop myself and had my son hold the door so they couldn't run back out.
The second night did the same routine with the feed and the light going into the coop at twilight. I came back out at dark and most were piled up by the gate whining but there were 5 inside (out of the 20) Ahhh some success!
3rd night: Half went in on thier own.
4th night ALL went in on thier own!
Took 4 nights to train 20 chickens to go in the coop by themselves lol. Now they go in every night. I also give them some scratch in the evening before coop time and try to keep a routine. Hope this helps

 

[bethandjoeync]

I would think a week is a little long. plus with the pretty weather coming around, you want them to go outside (I say this because I have some that don't leave the coop at all). I would say 3 days of coop-arrest would be sufficient. also you can make sure to leave a light on if you have one, in the coop, and they will go in while the light is on.

good luck!

 

[triggfamily5]

You'll find everyone does it differently. When I move mine to their teenager coop, They get coop and run all day. I keep a heat lamp in there constantly on, and they go back to the coop on their own at night because it's cold enough here that they still need a little heat at night.

When I move them to the big coop, right next door, They get the run and the coop for a few days (I may have to bring them back in) but they generally follow the adults in.

Every once in a while, when they free-range I might have some stragglers at night, especially if they are still chasing bugs on a nice summer night

I just do a head count.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As was said, we all do it differently and we all have different set-ups. They are probably in a fairly small brooder compared to the size of the coop. What is sad about them having a week to explore and get used to that large coop? It is probably a big improvement over the brooder. They will probably love it. And I find it a huge advantage for them to know where they are supposed to sleep without me having to physically move them.

If you do keep them in the coop for a week, then open the pop door, it is likely to take them a day or two for the first one to build up the nerve to venture outside. After a couple figure it out, they will all follow.

Do as you wish, but I personally don't see anything mean or cruel in giving them a week to explore and get used their nice new home while making my life easier.

 

[felidaet]

I oput mine in the coop for about a week last year before opening the door to the run. As Ridgerunner said, the coop is likely much larger than the brooder and they will probably love it. Mine did. At at that point they did not even know yet about the big run that was waiting for them just outside the door.

I moved mine to the coop at about 5 weeks old last year. I left a heat lamp on for them in one corner for a couple of more weeks. The day I turned it off they refused to go from the run to the coop when it got dark. I found that I had to turn it on a little before dark to entice them in. As soon as I closed the door to the run I would turn ther light off. They made a lot of noise the first couple of days when I turned it off. After about a week of turning the light on before dark they figured out they were supposed to go in at night. Then I was able to leave it off for good.