New chickens, new problems. Refusing to roost in coop.

[Merax]

Let me preface this post by saying one thing: White Leghorns are the ninjas of the chicken world.

I decided to expand my flock and after researching how to introduce new chickens, built a temporary second coop and run. Because it's temporary, there were some gaps between the wall and roof wire in the run which were around 6' off the ground. Yes, you can all see where this is going.

First night - two of my four White Leghorn pullets escaped....in complete dark....six feet straight up and over the wire. Because I checked on them and noticed, I found them and carried them back in the run and placed them in the coop. NOPE. Even though I had used the torch to locate them and then turned it off, so it was dark, they marched straight back out into the run. In the morning both were outside and had to be chased back into the run. Yes, apparently Leghorns can see in the dark.

Today I had to go to work so left the missus in charge of reinforcing the coop. She did a good job, but not enough to deter my daring escape artists. Same two chickens, one in the run, the other caught up in a gap between the wall and roof. Got them both in the coop and because I actually built the coop decently I can close the door so for the first time since owning chickens, the door to the coop is shut.

They will be let out tomorrow. Now the new coop has a ground level entrance, lovely straw cover and perches galore. It's possible that they don't use it because it's dark in there (although I fail to see how that can be a problem for my two ninja chickens). Anyway, tomorrow I will cut some VERY small windows and cover them with mesh to provide some more light.

Honestly, compared to my ISA Browns who had to be shown the coop ONCE then had to be placed on perches for five or so nights, Leghorns are a bloody nightmare. Very much looking forward to integrating the two flocks of 4 and letting the older chickens sort them out, although I'm having nightmares already about what my new escape artists will try to do the first time they are out and it starts to get dark.

 

[SIMZ]

It is true that leghorns are pretty lively! LOL I'm not surprised they can find a way out. They are my favorite breed for laying, though - even over Isa Browns and similar hybrids. The leghorns I have had are very wise and hardy chickens that consistently lay a perfect quality egg.

They'll figure it out. Keep doing what you're doing and putting them back in if they do escape and they'll start "bonding" to that coop. The darkness in the coop may be part of the problem, so windows or even a small light of some sort could help. Best of luck with them! It may be a long week until it gets straightened out.

 

[Merax]

They'll figure it out. Keep doing what you're doing and putting them back in if they do escape and they'll start "bonding" to that coop. The darkness in the coop may be part of the problem, so windows or even a small light of some sort could help. Best of luck with them! It may be a long week until it gets straightened out.

Thanks mate, I will keep at it don't worry. Will probably work from home tomorrow and cut some more windows in the coop for them, and maybe take the top part of one of those solar path lights and mount it so that the light is inside and the solar panel outside. Interesting times!

 

[azygous]

All chickens find new quarters unfamiliar and unpleasant. No matter the breed, they all hate change.

In trying to understand this irksome behavior, it helps to understand that chickens instinctively understand they're prey, especially at night. If they aren't completely familiar with the place you've placed them to roost, they will try to avoid it. The fact it's dark makes it worse. Even some of us humans feel uncomfortable and unsafe unless we can "see our enemies" coming. It's called claustrophobia.

It helps, therefore, to give the chickens time to become familiar with their new home before dark, and even a night light for a few nights can help even more with this process. Cutting windows into the coop certainly can be a huge help, even necessary.

 

[Merax]

Haven't been able to work from home to fit a light or more windows yet, but it seems that they will slowly get the hang of it. My kids put them away last night and reported that Escape Artist 1 was again up in a gap between the wall and roof of the run whereas Escape Artist 2 was on the ground in the run and my two "docile" leghorns were already in the coop. Girls put them away with no problems and closed the door.

Of interest during repairs my wife was doing to the temp coop, a couple of our existing flock came to visit and walked into the temporary run. Paid almost no attention to the new chickens, ate some of their food then walked off.

 

[Merax]

So an update (as I hate threads that aren't updated). Success! I fitted a solar light to the coop which remains lit (albeit at around 1 candlepower) till around 9pm. No more escape attempts, although until tonight the birds were still refusing to perch. I figured that one out today - changed the height of the perches to make them higher (was 30cm and 60cm above the ground, now 60cm and 90cm). Checked through a peephole tonight, they are all on the top perch. They also had their first outside time today with my existing ISA Browns - went pretty well, both groups were in the same area but basically ignored each other. After 4 hours I put them away again. So, going well, just have to get the older chickens to adopt these ones into the flock and take them back to the main coop.

 

[azygous]

I love updated threads!

People often don't realize it, but these threads are archives of valuable information, and people access them through searches for years after they've been active. An un-updated thread is like an exciting novel without an ending written.

 

[CT Fresheggs]

I know this is a very old thread but I seem to be having a similar issue with my 2 new flocks.
first the 4 older birds, they are about to start laying any day now. before I moved the new chicks out of the garage into the split run and their own coop, the 4 older birds would go in their coop at dark every night. now that the other chickens are there they want to sleep outside too.
Now for the 12 new birds, they will not sleep in the coop either. they only go in during the day to eat and drink. of the 12 new birds 6 are a week older than the other 6 and the older 6 want to sleep on an outside roost bar setup I made. the 6 youngest birds all huddle in a corner on the ground.
The coops and run are all sealed and then outside of that 12 inches is a 5 wire electric fence with 30,000 volts running 24 hours a day so nothing can get in. i have a huge bear and coyote problem here. I am going to try the night lights tomorrow and see if that helps. in the 12 new birds coop there is 2 16 x 20 and 2 24 x 15 windows so there is plenty of ventilation and light in the coop.

Any other ideas would be a great help.
Thank you