Problem with first move outside

[GG Brit]

I have 6 week old chicks that I moved outside yesterday. I have a small temporary coop for them - their main home will be a shed with perches and ultimately nesting boxes with access to a large enclosed outdoor run. I only had grown hens before (bought as adults) who had no problem about going into the shed at night.

I finally managed to get them into their coop last night but it was not a good experience for them and I’m concerned now that if they get used to this temporary home they won’t transition well to the shed. It will be hard to give them limited access to the run outside from the shed so now I don’t know what to do for the best. Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Why didn't you put them in the shed?

 

[GG Brit]

Because it is not possible to give them access to the outside - and it seemed from
What I read that it was important to get them outside.

 

[Aapomp831]

When it’s time to transition them to their shed, keep them locked inside for a couple of days with their food / water / perches. After a few days they will recognize that place as home / safety, and should automatically return to that area once dusk sets in. Sometimes there are mishaps. They may huddle in a corner for awhile and not use the perches. I usually will pick them up individually and place them on the roosts at night until they figure it out. It takes a little patience in the chick stage; but once they are older they will get it.

 

[azygous]

You can take a lesson from the playbook on raising human toddlers when you are transitioning baby chicks to their coop. When I had kids, my third came right on the heels of the second one, so she was moved into a regular bed at age thirteen months to free up the crib for the new baby. She would get out of bed and plant herself on the floor by the door and fall asleep there. After a few nights of this, it dawned on me she was hugging the crack of light coming under the closed door. After leaving the door to the bedroom open so light came in, she remained contentedly in her bed.

So it is with baby chicks. When you stuff them into a coop right at dark and walk away, they are going to be upset and chirp loudly because they are frightened in an unfamiliar place, and the darkness prevents them from seeing that there are no scary predators about to pounce on them.

The trick is to move chicks into the coop earlier in the day so they have several hours of light to be able to get used to their new space. Then leave a dim night light on for a few nights to reassure them they are safe. At some point they will need to learn to go into the coop on their own, and the night light will act as a beacon to draw them inside.

 

[GG Brit]

When it’s time to transition them to their shed, keep them locked inside for a couple of days with their food / water / perches. After a few days they will recognize that place as home / safety, and should automatically return to that area once dusk sets in. Sometimes there are mishaps. They may huddle in a corner for awhile and not use the perches. I usually will pick them up individually and place them on the roosts at night until they figure it out. It takes a little patience in the chick stage; but once they are older they will get it.

Thank you - I read somewhere that chicks should be kept in for a week to make sure they knew where home was - you mentioned a few days. In your experience does a few days usually work? Thank you.

 

[Aapomp831]

Thank you - I read somewhere that chicks should be kept in for a week to make sure they knew where home was - you mentioned a few days. In your experience does a few days usually work? Thank you.

Yes, once my chickens know where the food is.... And they naturally will want to seek shelter at night, so if that’s the only place to go they will, rather than stay outside in the dark. You’re going to be really paranoid and mom like in the beginning, but after a few rounds of chicks it becomes easier and you realize they are a lot tougher than we give them credit for.

 

[KyCoop]

I agree with the night light. My girls where afraid of the dark at that age. They did not like going into they dark coop. I strung a battery powered lights in their coop and would turn them on an hour before sunset. They happily went into the the coop at sunset and I would turn their lights off about an hour after they went to bed. They are 14 wks old now and don't need the night light but it's there if they need it again.

 

[peeper89]

I finally managed to get them into their coop last night but it was not a good experience for them and I’m concerned now that if they get used to this temporary home they won’t transition well to the shed. It will be hard to give them limited access to the run outside from the shed

Because it is not possible to give them access to the outside - and it seemed from
What I read that it was important to get them outside.

put in shed it outside

 

[GG Brit]

You can take a lesson from the playbook on raising human toddlers when you are transitioning baby chicks to their coop. When I had kids, my third came right on the heels of the second one, so she was moved into a regular bed at age thirteen months to free up the crib for the new baby. She would get out of bed and plant herself on the floor by the door and fall asleep there. After a few nights of this, it dawned on me she was hugging the crack of light coming under the closed door. After leaving the door to the bedroom open so light came in, she remained contentedly in her bed.

So it is with baby chicks. When you stuff them into a coop right at dark and walk away, they are going to be upset and chirp loudly because they are frightened in an unfamiliar place, and the darkness prevents them from seeing that there are no scary predators about to pounce on them.

The trick is to move chicks into the coop earlier in the day so they have several hours of light to be able to get used to their new space. Then leave a dim night light on for a few nights to reassure them they are safe. At some point they will need to learn to go into the coop on their own, and the night light will act as a beacon to draw them inside.

Thanks - not having had children chicks are the closest I have got to being a parent! The light makes sense and in fact had planned on that but read another post that said it wasn’t necessary. Trial and error! Thanks again and happy new year!

Yes, once my chickens know where the food is.... And they naturally will want to seek shelter at night, so if that’s the only place to go they will, rather than stay outside in the dark. You’re going to be really paranoid and mom like in the beginning, but after a few rounds of chicks it becomes easier and you realize they are a lot tougher than we give them credit for.

thank you! Yes definitely was feeling paranoia after rounding them up yesterday. I’m going to leave them where they are for a few days and then let them out again. Appreciate the response and happy new year!