Moving flock from one house to another

[Aquella]

Hello.

I have just, (tonight,) moved my flock from their old house in which they've all lived their entire life, to a new one that's maybe 100 feet away. The original house is going to stay as it is, and will house a couple goats. The chickens will continue to have access to the area where the old house is.

So my question is, how do I convince them that this new house is where they now live? I can close the door of the old house for some time, and I can keep them locked up in the new house, but for how long are those both necessary? I want to make this transition as quick and painless on them, and on me.

Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

Do you have fencing? It will help if the coop is the only option.

I have never had a real issue with this and i have changed coops twice over the years with different flocks. I put them in the new coop at dark. I do not lock them in, but I do have a run they are secure in. I lock up the old coop, so they can't get into it, when it gets dark, they always go into their second choice, which is the new coop, as it is the best roosting available. In a few days, they think the new place is home.

I do go down there a few times to make sure everyone does get into the new coop the second and third night, but by the third night everyone always has.

good luck

Mrs k

 

[Aquella]

Do you have fencing? It will help if the coop is the only option.

I have never had a real issue with this and i have changed coops twice over the years with different flocks. I put them in the new coop at dark. I do not lock them in, but I do have a run they are secure in. I lock up the old coop, so they can't get into it, when it gets dark, they always go into their second choice, which is the new coop, as it is the best roosting available. In a few days, they think the new place is home.

I do go down there a few times to make sure everyone does get into the new coop the second and third night, but by the third night everyone always has.

good luck

Mrs k

Thank you for your reply. Both houses are in a ridiculously large fenced in area, but fencing off the original house isn't really an option. I can keep the door closed though.

So with that being said, do you think that keeping them inclosed in the new house for a day, and restricting access to the new house for, say, a week, would be sufficient?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I locked my girls in to their new coop for 48 hours. The next day, 2 of them did try to return to the location of the old coop (which was removed, so they sat on the ground) so I had to urge them into the new one, but after that they had no issue returning to the new coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

If you can close the entrance to the original coop, it should be fine. Take a long stick, go down shortly before dark, and just head the girls towards the new building. Just move slow, just move them towards the new building and eventually someone will go in, and the rest for the most part will follow.

But if the original coop cannot be gotten into, most will go to the other place they have slept safely.

 

[chickens really]

Definitely lock them in and get them accustom to that new house before letting them loose again. Once they see where feed and water is provided they will know.

 

[Aquella]

Thank you all! I'll let 'em out tomorrow, and hope they figure it out and don't end up in trees.