Brand new to owning chickens and acquired 4 grown hens from neighbors who left them. They were free range between our property and theirs and we made our large wood dog house and run into a coop, they took to the nest boxes and roost right away and have been producing eggs so i'm so glad for that and i plan on leaving them in there for 2 weeks to train them that THIS is home and i want them to be able to free range during the day.
Questions:
Will 2 weeks in the coop/run be enough to change their behavior to know that is home and return to the coop nightly? I feel bad that they're corralled in there and not able to roam but i know we have to suck it up right now
Also.. they start roosting at around 6 pm, isn't this pretty early especially for Summer? Is it because it's darker where the coop/run is situated or they're possibly bored after being able to free roam and now they're cooped up?
I tend to fret and i'm new to caring for chickens and want healthy, happy ones!
Questions:
Will 2 weeks in the coop/run be enough to change their behavior to know that is home and return to the coop nightly? I feel bad that they're corralled in there and not able to roam but i know we have to suck it up right now
Also.. they start roosting at around 6 pm, isn't this pretty early especially for Summer? Is it because it's darker where the coop/run is situated or they're possibly bored after being able to free roam and now they're cooped up?
I tend to fret and i'm new to caring for chickens and want healthy, happy ones!