New 5wk old peeps introduced to new coop/pen

[scalaway]

Hi all..I need some help here

! We have 5 hens (1-2 yrs old) who have lived in our hen house since they were peeps. We've added to our flock (26 to be exact!!) and just put the babies (5-6wks old) out in the coop for the first time last night--everyone got along okay--BUT when night time came, the babies bedded down outside???? We've got a 25x25 fully enclosed pen and then a 5x16 hen house. I ended up gathering them all up and tucking them in the house myself--will they eventually learn to go into the house themselves or was it just because we'd put them in for the first night?? The bigger birds didn't bother with the babies at all..in fact one of the 2yr old red star's slept with them on the floor of the coop

-- Any suggestions? I don't want them sleeping outside @ night--it's secure, but I don't trust the wild life!! Thanks for the suggestions

--Sarah

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

We started letting ours out within our enclosed pen at about 5 weeks old. They have a house they can get in easily, but they choose to sleep outside every night now. They seem to enjoy the outside better. Ours have been fine. We do live where the climate is warm, though. My husband worried about them getting too cool at night at first, but they have done this for over a week now and seem just as healthy as ever!

 

[Judy]

Just put them in each night, and hopefully they will get the idea in a few days and go on their own.

 

[scalaway]

We're in Ohio....so it's warm today--but later this week it's suppose to be in the 50's!! I worried about them because we don't have the top of our pen enclosed yet...we've had trouble with raccoons before--don't know if they'd climb up the fence or not--I worry about predators more than the temperature where we''re at

-- They stayed in once I put them in the coop last night--I've got a babysitter @ home while I'm at work this am--she said they were out and running around this am--so maybe now that they slept in the coop one night they'll go back?? -- who knows!!

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

Yup just gather them up each night before dark and place them in the coop and they will catch on pretty quickly to go in on their own . Thats how we do it and it seems to work well.

 

[scalaway]

I hope they catch on quickly

-My husband is still working on making a "gate" to get in and out of the pen area--I don't fit so well in the small area he left

!!- I was surprised how easy it was to move them all at night time

-- Being outside for the first time on their own must have really tuckered them out

!!

 

[sherrydeanne]

My newbies did the same thing last week. Two new youngins were out after dark, and I had to put them in the coop. The next day they went in with the others, they were just a tad confused

 

[WildBurroShirts.com]

I think I'd sleep better knowing they were inside...there are mystery predators out there you never see...until you get chickens.

 

[scalaway]

WildBurroShirts.com :

I think I'd sleep better knowing they were inside...there are mystery predators out there you never see...until you get chickens.

I know I do...I worry about them even when they're in the coop

!! We've had some nasty run in's with fox and raccoon...even a chicken hawk--not a fun experience!! I like everyone in their rooms when it's time for bed

!!​