New coop- chickens won't go in on own

[chickenmomma30]

Hello! I got my group a new coop yesterday, a beautiful more spacious amish built one. The one they had before was a tiny pre-fab one from tractor supply. I was so excited for them and yet I got home last night and they were all sleeping in the run instead of coop. Today they were all gathered around coop door peering in but refused to go in on own. I put them all in both nighrs and shut the door. Will this change? The other coop was their only home.

 

[TerryH]

They are scared of anything new. You should confine them in the coop for a few days so they learn that is their new home.

 

[Leihamarie]

They are scared of anything new. You should confine them in the coop for a few days so they learn that is their new home.

x2

 

[Cbennich]

How nice! They are thinking about it if they are peering in. I would keep putting them in at night. It shouldn't be long. Maybe if you put the 'leader' in first the others will follow? It's not fun having to put them in for sure. My girls heard 'our' bobcat at dusk last night. They flew to the loft in the run and didn't get in the coop before the pop door went down. So we were out putting hens in by flashlight.

 

[azygous]

Try putting a night light inside as it starts to get dark. Chickens that are unfamiliar with new digs need to see what's in there. They're sort of like toddlers who need to have a light on as they drop off to sleep and the closet door closed tight so the "bad things" in there won't get out during the night and eat them.

After they're going in on their own for a few nights, you can remove the light. Even a small flashlight will work if you don't have electricity.

 

[Howard E]

Just out of curiosity, can you post a picture of this new coop?

 

[aart]

Quote: X3

 

[Teila]

Howdy chickenmomma30

When we built our new coop we had lots of little helpers

and they were used to being in and around it before it became their permanent new home. On the day we took away their old pre-fab coop and they had no choice but to sleep in the completed new one, they walked straight up the ramp and roosted; never looked back.

My point being that I agree with everyone else in that chickens do not like change or anything new.

It sounds like the arrival of the new coop was not a gradual thing and agree that they will just need some time to get used to it.

A couple more nights of you having to put them to bed and I think they should love it as much as you do.

 

[Adalida]

Aren't chickens funny?? When we got our first batch of chickens, their run was set up by the garden. After a few months we built them a nice coop about thirty yards away. Those silly chickens kept going back to the old location- there was nothing there though- for weeks! The ducks learned by the second day where their new home was, but the chickens kept huddling in the dirt at the site of their former home and I'd have to carry them to the new house every night. Silly birds.

 

[chickenmomma30]

No

Howdy chickenmomma30

When we built our new coop we had lots of little helpers  and they were used to being in and around it before it became their permanent new home.  On the day we took away their old pre-fab coop and they had no choice but to sleep in the completed new one, they walked straight up the ramp and roosted; never looked back.

My point being that I agree with everyone else in that chickens do not like change or anything new.

It sounds like the arrival of the new coop was not a gradual thing and agree that they will just need some time to get used to it.

A couple more nights of you having to put them to bed and I think they should love it as much as you do.

No unfortunately I wasn't able to do it gradually due to my work schedule. I had to pull the old one out to get the new one up and although they watched from the yard they came in that night to the new coop. Not ideal but I had no choice. I hope they learn to like it soon. I over worry about my flock!