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TillyPeeps said:
Is it normal that 9-week-old chicks don't like to go outside of coop? Only when I shake mealworm jar in the run, they will come out. They spend 90% time inside the coop. There are a 10' X 16' area in the run with roof, so they have enough place to hide from rain. One day it's hot in coop, they still stay there. They love fermented food, but wouldn't come to eat it if I put it in run (under roof). They even not bother the grass in the run other than pecked a few times. No digging or scratching. My last batch chciken cleaned out all the grass in a couple days. No one dust bath either. Do I have to wait until OneMountainAcres's chicks come to show them how to be a chicken? :gig
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It may take some guidance from her chicks from the sounds of it. Though another option is to lock them out of the coop for a few hours each afternoon. Put their food and water outside, add a little kiddie pool of peat moss and wood ash mix and force them to stay out on warm days, they will get used to it.
They are easily spooked at that 'pre-teen' stage so extra prodding will be needed to show them that the big, wide world isn't really all that bad. Since they don't have a broody mama or existing flock to show them then you are stuck with it.
 
fisherlady said:
It may take some guidance from her chicks from the sounds of it. Though another option is to lock them out of the coop for a few hours each afternoon. Put their food and water outside, add a little kiddie pool of peat moss and wood ash mix and force them to stay out on warm days, they will get used to it.
They are easily spooked at that 'pre-teen' stage so extra prodding will be needed to show them that the big, wide world isn't really all that bad. Since they don't have a broody mama or existing flock to show them then you are stuck with it.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try during the weekend. I just couldn't believe that they only come to the run when i was there. If I didn't shake mealworm jar, they even wouldn't come out. How can a chicken not like fresh air and grass? They seem always enjoying it when i was there, but went back to coop right after I left. I have a 3' kid sand box for them to dust bath. No one is interested in it. I'll add peat moss to see if it helps.
 
TillyPeeps said:
Is it normal that 9-week-old chicks don't like to go outside of coop? Only when I shake mealworm jar in the run, they will come out. They spend 90% time inside the coop. There are a 10' X 16' area in the run with roof, so they have enough place to hide from rain. One day it's hot in coop, they still stay there.
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Silly birds! They'll learn :) At least you're not struggling to get them in every night
 
fisherlady said:
Put 2 of yours out with the flockfor a couple of days... they will be pros in no time and when sent out to Tilly they will lead the way!
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One of the ones that's reserved for her has been out with the flock for a week or two now....that whole group has still never left the coop lol. But, my coop is a good 4 feet up off the ground so I haven't been encouraging it yet either.
 
OneMountainAcres said:
One of the ones that's reserved for her has been out with the flock for a week or two now....that whole group has still never left the coop lol. But, my coop is a good 4 feet up off the ground so I haven't been encouraging it yet either.
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My coop is about 2ft off ground. And yours are much younger. My chickens have no problem fly to top of the ramp. They show up in 2 seconds if hearing mealworm jar, and go back in coop at the same second when I leave. :th I'm sure your girls will learn soon. I just hope they know to dust bath, because that's the one thing IDK how to teach them. :barnie
 
TillyPeeps said:
My coop is about 2ft off ground. And yours are much younger. My chickens have no problem fly to top of the ramp. They show up in 2 seconds if hearing mealworm jar, and go back in coop at the same second when I leave. :th I'm sure your girls will learn soon. I just hope they know to dust bath, because that's the one thing IDK how to teach them. :barnie
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Please post a video if you decide to try! :lau
 

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