New to chickens

[dollydaylillies]

Ok, so I researched everything and thought I was good to go but seems my new chicks are not doing what I thought they would do.

Purchased my chicks on March 26 from Tractor Supply and they were at the store for about a week. I have 6 chicks. So, they are approx. 6 weeks old and are totally feathered out. They have been in their coop for about two weeks now.

They hate the outside run, they hate food scrapes. I purchased meal worms as everyone says hey love them. They haven't touched them. Nor grapes, nor strawberrys, nor spaghetti noodles.

I put up the perch over the poop board with sweet PDZ thinking I was totally prepared. Well they wont get on the perch at all. Their is not one bit of poop in the poop board. Their perch is a 2x4 flat side up as I researched about 12" from the wall about 6" over the poop board. They huddle all together in the corner on the floor which is pine shavings.

Do you think they are just not old enough and just need more time to get used to their surroundings??
I read from someone to put a LED light in the coop for them so I will do that to make they feel more secure.

Still trying to figure it all out to give them the best house ever.

thanks for your input I am trying to figure out to post some pictures for review.


dollydayllie

 

[Tracyree]

Try going out at night and putting them on the roost after dark. Do that a few nights
in a row and they'll start on their own. Also, just keep offering treats and they'll eventually figure out they are safe and not scary.
How high off the ground is the roost?

 

[Judy]

They are pretty young to be sleeping on a roost. Some do, but many only start when they are a little older. Right now they are sleeping the way young chicks do. Let them do as they choose. The coop does, however, need to have natural light, so that it gets dark and light in there as it does outdoors. I would not ad a light. It probably only helps them feel more secure when they have just had their heat lamp turned off, and then onlly for a night or two.

What is on the surface of the run? If you have a ramp, they may be afraid of that, but they will get used to it. Probably they are simply afraid to go outdoors right now. Are there young children or dogs and cats running around near the run? Construction? Vehicles driving by? Any number of things might make it take them longer to explore their world. They will get used to it all, though, in time.

For the grapes, etc., try cutting them up small and mixing with a little of their feed, perhaps slightly moistened. The are afraid of anything new, including a strawberry. If you have tamed them, small pieces on the palm of your hand may work. I've never given mine mealworms but your chicks may be a little young for them, as they are not a small piece of food, I don't believe. Remember they are used to chick feed which comes in very small pieces.

Mostly, just give them time.

 

[cafarmgirl]

They are young yet and it's a lot of new things, just give them some time to mature. They will start roosting and they will learn to love going outside. Mine move out to their coop at 5 weeks old and it's usually a couple weeks before they decide to sleep on the roosts, but they get there eventually. And yes, a dim light in the coop does help. My coop gets a bit of light from a yard light, it's never pitch black.