Not taking to the coop

[yogifink]

The story goes: a few month ago we went to the feed store to get feed, and walked out with 5 new chicks...

having more chickens ment we (I with encouragement) had to build a new coop. After we got a new coop constructed we put the chicks into the new coop and left our hens as-is.

The chicks (now up to 13 babies, don't ask) started to get too big to be locked inside the coop and needed room to range a bit. So...we swapped the hens and the chicks, giving the chicks their own coop with a bit of room to run, and the hens a new penthouse with a tenth of an acre to roam. The hens took to the new coop right away.

After a few more weeks, when the chicks were big enough, we added them (back down to 5), to the orginal new coop that the hens are in. After a few days everyone is getting along nicely.

However, 3 out of the 5 new chicks are not taking to the coop- that is the orginal coop they were in, moved out of for a few weeks, and then moved back into when They were big enough to mingle with our hens. Every night we are finding the 3 birds in a tree just outside of their coop. I have seen each one walk into and out of the coop without encouragement. They know where it is and know that it is home, they just like the trees a bit better.

So I imagine the solution is to lock everyone in The coop for a day or two - but we're afraid the hens will give the pullets a beating. And we can't lock the hens out of the coop without screwing up their laying cycle. Should we section off a portion of the coop and lock the chicks in their for a few day? (How many) Or is their a better way to go about this?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Instead of locking them in all day, try putting them in a while before they tend to roost. That way they the 3 young ones will learn to roost at night and get into the habit after several days. I know it can be a hassle to round them up before dusk, but maybe treats would help. The other option might be waiting until the hens go up to roost and then collecting the 3 from the trees and putting them into the coop and closing them in. I don't know if the silly chicks are up too high to pluck off the tree branch though.

 

[scots dumpy]

They are developing a pecking order and the three that you are finding in the tree are the three at the bottom of the pecking order.

 

[yogifink]

We have been going out every night at dusk or just after dark to get the three stragglers, normally in the tree...twice I've had to get out a step ladder to get to them.

If we put them in the coop before the rest, they just help themselves out...

Maybe start putting everyone to bed before dusk and closing them in?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Maybe start putting everyone to bed before dusk and closing them in?

That is probably the best bet.