Putting new pullets to bed

Jverdian

Songster
6 Years
Jun 12, 2018
38
43
119
Hi, I’m Joyce and I’m brand new to chickens. Today I brought my 3 8 wk old pullets home. Putting them to bed was quite a struggle. They are still very frightened of me. I had to catch each one and pop in in the coop. It took me 15 minutes and I got scratched up a bit. After I closed them in I heard quite a bit of banging around in there! Hope this gets easier!!! Any suggestions?
 
Chickens are creatures of habit. They sleep where they slept before and survived the night. You need to lock them in their coop for a few days before you let them out. Then at dusk, they will go inside on their own without drama.
Chickens also can't see in the dark so everyone has to be in place before it gets dark.
 
Is the coop in the shade? It needs to be.
Perhaps the coop is too small and insufficient ventilation. If you bought a premade coop, both are likely. Cut bigger windows.
Is the chicken door at ground level?
I usually leave young birds in the building for at least 3 days before I open the door. I then go back at dusk and they have put themselves to bed.
 
I have a small coop with an attached run. I’ve only had them in there. It’s quite hot >90 degrees so I was afraid to leave them in the coop during the day. It does have 2 small windows but I know it will be hot,

Welcome, I think there is a slight difference in meanings here. To you the coop seems to mean the shelter itself.

I believe the person who responded to you means the run as well as the shelter.
 
it Is a small premade coop, with an attached run, but adequate for three. I have a small fenced area (about 50 square feet) for them to forage in when not in my yard. The coop/run seems pretty secure, with hardware wire over all and heavy bricks around the base. Perhaps I could leave them there and they may wander up the ladder into the actual coop by themselves? Or if not would they be safe in the pen?
 
7490CA8D-3BFF-41A9-B7C0-DC622619D972.jpeg This is the coop I got.(actual is smaller but adequate for 3). Could I leave them in the open to air portion overnight without locking them in actual coop?
 

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