Moving day

[Roselinda]

What is the best way to move chicken to a new coop? I have only three and they have been in a small enclosure I made out of playpen materials. They are about 4 months old and getting big. Got a coop and run for their new home.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Just move them but leave them in for a few days till they know where it is safe to sleep.
Is there also an enclosed run?

 

[Roselinda]

Yes there is a run.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Leave them in the coop for two or three days if it isn't too hot and there is plenty of ventilation. Then leave them in the run for a couple more days so they can orient themselves to their surroundings and find their way home.
If they won't go in at night, leave them locked in a few more days.
They are creatures of habit and what they did last night, they'll do tonight.

 

[Roselinda]

Put the water and food in the enclosed part of the coop? It is not huge, has two nesting boxes and a roosting bar. I will have to get a small feeder and watering system. - Is that all I need to do? This is all so new to me, someone gave me the chicken May 9 - was not sure what I was getting into. Thank you so much for your help.

 

[middle TN Nancy]

I don’t put food or water in the coop anymore, just in the run. My chicks are 2 months old now and they blast out of the coop each morning when I open the pop door around 7:00 AM LOL. But when I first put them in the coop when they were very young I had food and water in there, as I kept the pop door closed for several days to get them acclimated to their new space. After they were coming out into the run everyday, I provided their food and water in the run and slowly withdrew the food from the coop (at night they don’t need it anyway). Just a day or two ago I finally removed the little chick waterer that had been in the coop. I just try not to make too many changes at once, so they don’t get flipped out.
My run is as secure as my coop, but I still close the pop door at night. Not sure why, just makes me feel better.

 

[aart]

Put the water and food in the enclosed part of the coop? It is not huge, has two nesting boxes and a roosting bar. I will have to get a small feeder and watering system. - Is that all I need to do? This is all so new to me, someone gave me the chicken May 9 - was not sure what I was getting into. Thank you so much for your help.

If you don't plan on free ranging, just put them in the new coop and run.

 

[Mrs. K]

This time of year, I would NOT lock the birds in the coop. The chance of heat killing them is high. While this is often recommended, I have never really understood why unless there is no run attached. The coop should be the best place to sleep. Put them in the coop near dark, shut it up, open it early the next morning and let them explore the run on their own terms.

I too keep the food and water out in the run.

You might have to encourage or put them in the coop the next night, but by day three they should be fine. I do agree with the advice not to let them out of the run/coop set up until they have been in that for several days.

ps - do lock up so they can't get in, where they are sleeping now.

Mrs K

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Visit the learning center and read.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/learning-center.11/
I don't know where the OP lives so their climate is unknown.
New people are forgiven for not knowing that chickens need a lot more space and ventilation than coop manufacturers would have them believe.
It is a shame that I have yet to discover manufactured coop seller who is honest about the number of chickens their coops can hold. And they never have enough windows for ventilation. They may be marginally proficient at carpentry but obviously know nothing about chickens.

 

[Roselinda]

We moved the chickens last night into the coop. Let them out this morning in the run - took a little while for them to come out - the watermelon helped. Seem to be adjusting to their new environment. However I agree they need a bigger run - which we plan on adding very soon. Thank you very much for the help.