Problem with New Coop and New Chickens

[whirlydogsuppli]

Hi Everyone...

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice regarding my new coop and new hens - see image below.
I made some huge changes to the living arrangements of my chickens. I have two 6month old hens that were living in a really small coop and run (about 24sq feet of space)... about 4 weeks ago I introduced two Easter Eggers (3 1/2 months old at the time) and had them separated with chicken wire, so they would get to know one another without fighting. I put the old house inside the new coop ... someday I will be building a new house, but I thought it wise to keep the house they have been using instead of doing everything all new at once!

We built a big coop - see picture - which is about 64 sq feet. Yesterday at around noon we put them all in the new coop - and they LOVED it... running around scratching and eating bugs and debris. I made it so I can walk inside - the older girls come running to me and crouch down spreading their wings a little wanting to be petted and loved! They seemed so so happy.

However --- last night no one slept in the house, which they normally do! The little Easter Eggers slept under it and the two older hens slept all night, right in front of the door to the new coop.

Here is my question:
Should I just give them a week or two to get adjusted to their new environment, and hope they start using the house again? Or should I physically pick them up and stick them inside the house and let them come out on their own so they figure out what to do?
Side Note ~ it's been hot here, probably about 90-100 deg during the day and 60-70 at night. Maybe they are just not going in the house because it's too warm?

I'm thinking, I need to be patient and they will all figure it out on their own.
Plus, the two older girls have been laying eggs every day. I am going to assume, that's going to stop for a while until they are comfortable in their new home (it's still too early here, I'll find out if they lay in a few hours when it gets light - they usually lay around 8am).

Thanks so much... all of you are so wonderful and I really appreciate your advice and help!

 

[SquishyPandas]

They will probably figure it out and get used to the new arrangements on their own, but if they don't after a few days then it wouldn't hurt to put them in physically to help them get used to it!!

However it's really not vital for them to sleep there, especially since you said it's really hot where you live! I have a hen who very rarely sleeps in the bedroom of the coop (and it's not to do with being bullied, or there being mites or anything). She just prefers to sleep on the perch next to the bedroom instead but it's not an issue unless it's cold or rainy

 

[aart]

Those prefab coops(what I think you called the 'house') are awfully small and have very little ventilation.......
......so the heat and the size of the coop and the new birds is why they are not going into the coop at night.

Your new run(what I think you called the 'coop') is of pretty good size for 4 birds, but the 2" chicken wire will not keep predators out.

Your older birds are crouching down for you because they think you are a rooster and are showing you they're ready to be mated.

 

[whirlydogsuppli]

Thanks so much for everyone's advice.

Yesterday it got up to about 105 deg F. .. they seem to be okay. I hate that "pre-fab" chicken house/coop - eventually it is going to go! I am building a much much bigger one.
They are sleeping outside at night - and the bullying has stopped, in only one day which makes me happy. They all seem to get along just fine.

As far as the 2inch chicken wire... I know it's not a great thing to protect them, but it detours the neighborhood cats and dogs. We have a local raccoon (which I am sure could easily chew through the chicken wire) that comes around at night but in the 4 or 5 months we've had them, it seems the raccoon isn't interested. I am up and down all night taking my little dogs for "potty walks", plus I have a solar flood light that shines on the coop the first half of the night before it goes out and a motion light that is on all of the time. With the lights and the dogs, I'm assuming that's why the raccoon isn't bothering the chickens.... however, I do want to get them going in the house or the one I am making so I can lock them inside at night, just to be safe!

I will continue at this time to give them another week or two sleeping outside because this heat is just too much, for me and the chickens. Very unusual for our part of the country! Unless you all think I should be doing something different.

Thanks again!

 

[SquishyPandas]

Yikes, a racoon?? We don't really get anything like that where I live. We had trouble from a fox a while back, but haven't seen it for years. Now I understand your concern for wanting them to be locked in safely at night though!!!
I guess you'll have to wait for it to get cooler and/or look into making your new house very well ventilated for hot conditions!
Also I hope this doesn't sound weird but just from reading these posts you sound like such a nice person! Haha

 

[lazy gardener]

I can not see from your pic, but is the gable end of your coop closed in with 1" chicken wire, hardware cloth, or anything? I don't want to be an alarmist, but... it's just a matter of time before your raccoon decides it's time for a chicken dinner. I once had a coon wipe out 8 hens in a single night. And I had a big dog at the time. He came back the next morning for the rest. They will reach through the wire and snag any part of the chicken they can reach, drag it to the wire, and eat them right through the wire. They can also shred chicken wire. I caught one in a trap last year. We had extended it with 1/2" hardware cloth b/c he was so big he didn't trip the paddle. He absolutely shredded that welded hardware cloth, rolled that trap 50' down the length of the lawn before chewing his way out. A weasel will squeeze through any opening less than 1" and will wipe out a whole flock in a single night. Digging animals... unless you have a wire skirt will make short work of getting in. You have a beautiful coop there. Just a little more work with some more secure wire will make it predator proof! Enjoy your flock.