RI Reds not using chicken run consistently...

[joeambrose99]

Hi we have 10 Rhode Island Reds that are now about 8-9 weeks old. I have built a deluxe coop and about 400 sq foot fenced in run. They don't seem to use the run much at all... especially during the day. They are more likely to go out in the coop at happy hour time(we joke), from 5pm until dusk (8pm or so now)...

All food is inside the coop along with main watering can. We have auxiliary water outside... Should I try moving food outside during day perhaps? Any other thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC!
There are a lot of reasons that they may prefer to spend time in the coop vs. in the run.
What is your weather like at the moment? Is the run mostly shaded or is it mostly in the full sun? If they are going in at 5 and staying to roost, how long are they out in the run prior to that? Is the area around your run one that is chicken friendly or likely to have a lot of stressors (a dog that likes to stalk the run, lots of noise and activity, etc.) that would cause a bird, especially a younger less confident bird, to choose to avoid it? How long have they been outside in this particular setup? It can take some time for them to adjust to new surroundings and gain confidence when they are moved from the brooder to the coop/run - if the move was recent, that may be what is happening here.