My chickens transitioned into a new big coop and run. They are huddled by the door and not in the perch.

[Chickmomof6]

My chickens were transitioned from their little Tractor Supply coop(which they only roost in at night). They have the run of the fenced in back yard during daylight. I have a camera inside the new coop primarily for my viewing pleasure. They are huddled by the door and not on the perch. I’m hoping they will settle in a day or two. Its pitch dark in there, so being a worrier they wouldnt be able to see and find the perch, and bump into one another, I put a flashlight above the door for a little light.
Question for your chick experts, is this normal behavior and did I do a bad thing by putting a flashlight in there ? They have a automatic hatch that will open at 7am this will access their enclosed run.
This is my 1st flock (6) raised them from babies. They are laying now. I’m quite attached to them. They are pretty spoiled.

 

[Kiki]

Can you post a few pictures of their coop?

 

[Debbie292d]

We have a light in our coop that we turn on the first couple of nights as they'll go easier through the chicken door that way. So for two nights, we do light on, then two nights, no light, and usually after the 4th or 5th night, they're trained!

Welcome to BYC!! We're glad you're here!

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Glad to have you here in this fun loving poultry community.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out. 6 birds in prefab coop ?

 

[Chickmomof6]

Can you post a few pictures of their coop

 

[Chickmomof6]

Not the best pics of the new coop, but we are proud of it. Hope the chicks will be. Still has a few finishing touches needed.

 

[Chickmomof6]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out. 6 birds in prefab coop ?

The prefab coop “supposedly” fit 8-10 but my 5 (I have 4 hens and a rooster. 6 was a typo. It was a tight fit. But like I mentioned in original post, they only used it at night. My 4 hens did use the nesting boxes for laying, actually they only used 1 of the 3 boxes. all layed in same box.

 

[Jener8or]

The coop looks great! Do they have at least 5' of roosting bar space? (More is fine.) Do you have the roosting bar horizontal (so they perch on the wide part and not the narrow part?) I think eventually they will start using it.

As long as mine are in the coop, I usually just let them sleep wherever. The older ones seem to prefer the roosts, but the younger ones like to sleep up on the nest boxes.

Welcome to BackYard Chickens! I hope your chickens get all settled into their nice new coop soon!

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hello, and welcome to BYC! We're glad you decided to join us!