Teaching them to return to the coop

[chelsey21211]

I kept mine cooped up for 3 days initially. Then I unblocked the chicken door and its been 7 days now of free ranging from coop to run...though after dusk I still have to go inside the coop and make MY version of moma hen noises to get them to come in. My chicks DO think of me as their moma I'm a stay at home mom with extra time on my hands..what else can I say :/ Lol. Good Luck to ya!

 

[3riverschick]

The chicks are about 6 weeks old and since the 15 chicks were overcrowded in the 110 gallon watering trough that was their brooder, and since the weather has finally decided to be spring for real, I moved them to the coop over the weekend. They remained inside for two days but I was working in my nearby garden and decided to let them into the run. It is not fully netted over yet, so I wanted to keep a eye on them. They are still not real sure whether I am friend or foe, in spite of approaching the brooder low, talking to them, putting feed in my hand, etc. They are less afraid of me when I open the raised coop door. I opened the hatch door to the run and put the ramp in place and they took turns sunning in the open doorway, but not going out. I finally went into the coop and shooed them out the hatch one at a time. They promptly got under the coop and mostly stayed there, venturing out and darting back under. To get them back in, I had to crawl under the coop and hand them out to my husband one at a time to put on the ramp and guide them back into the coop. I didn't want to wait until dusk to see if they would go back inside as he have a heavy hawk population and the run isn't covered yet. Any suggestions?

I put a light in the coop just before twilight. Have found that chickens go towards the light if given a choice between it and darkness. The light goes on before darkness starts to fall so the bird see the light in the coop as a normal progression of the end of the day. They may not get it the first or second day, but they learn fast. Put a box of some kind turned on its side so the open top is a side on the ground below the coop door. If they don't figure out to go inside the coop, they will probably huddle there. Then after dark, you can go out and gently pick them up and put them in the lighted door. They figure it out quick. Once they figure it out, you can stop using the light and they will put themselves to bed. If you don't have electricity to the coop, use a battery operated lantern like the Old Boston Light they sell on TV or a battery operated camping lantern . It won't be on all night just until they all come inside and settle down for 10 minutes.
Best,
Karen

 

[hevaglenn]

I don't mind locking them in their coop at night with no acess to their pen but I couldn't bring myself to do it for 7 whole days and nights!! Me and the kids like to have playtime with them too much

 

[ChickensRDinos]

You can lock them in for 3 or 4 days and then let them out the first time in the evening about an hour before it gets dark. That way they will not wander far and you can sit and watch them to make sure they all go home. If they do then you are set. If they do not. Place them on the roost and give them some more time and consider a light.

 

[ellie32526]

Is that alright for them? To stay in the coop for that long? I am going to be moving mine into their outside coop and run in the next few weeks so am just wondering.

Mine outgrew the freezer box I used for a brooder at about 3-4 wks. My coop wasn't quite ready (no pop door, no nest boxes, no ramp, etc) so we put them in the hen house any way and they stayed inside for about two weeks while we finished the coop. I made sure they had fresh water and food, and after a week or so I let them outside in the chicken yard for a few hours each day. Everybody is fine. If I leave them alone, they go inside by themselves, then I just need to turn on their light (my chicks sleep with a night light - more for me than them) shut the pop door and raise the ramp into place. The ramp folds up and attaches above the pop door so I have double security.

 

[Truecelt]

Our first year, we had the run covered already, and had the locked in the coop/run. The first couple nights I had to put the in the coop, but it didn't take long for them to realize that it was cozy in the coop at night.

The second year with the new arrivals after we had them in a lean-to next to the existing run, we let them free range with the established hens, and they all followed the older girls in.

This year, we're our new group is larger than we've ever added before-8 EEs, a (and 14 silkies. There'll be a new challenge this year, but I think our previous successes will help.

 

[Ebal]

Mine have had open access coop to run during the day for a week now. (6-7 week old pullets) . Although they go in and out of coop during the day (mostly out) they have huddled up in a corner of the run when it gets dark. I pick em up and put them in coop all week. If just after dark, this is very easy and little fuss at all. If earlier, dusk, I have to chase em around the run to catch and handle them.

 

[kemclaughlin]

I do the same thing, I lock them in the coop for several days. Then I let them venture out on their own schedules. The oldest took a few days to venture out, once I started to leave the coop door open for them. The youngest ones waited longer. Now they all wait until I have opened the door and they rush past me to get out. They automatically return to the coop at night, I have never had to coax one in.

 

[randys]

I have 12 chicks, got them at 3 days old. At 5 weeks old I put them in their coop, left them in there for 1 day then let them out in the run. At night I still used a heat lamp for another week, nights were still cold here in NY. They had no problem coming in at dusk. Now they are 8 weeks old and at dusk about 8pm eastern time I go out to put them to bed for the night and they already roosted and ready for bed, I do not leave them outside at night. This is my first year having chicks. I do whistle every time I feed them or give them treats. They hear that whistle and they come a running.

Randy

 

[danchicken]

I am newbie well relearning as I raised chickens as a youngster. So how big are your coops that you worry about leaving them in for one week? Mine I feel with food and water could live there a long time. It's maybe 20ft x 10ft with windows for light. I have a section fenced off 24ft x 30ft until they get used to it and I let them free range. In this I have 6 chicks and 6 ducklings with 3 full grown ducks on the way.

I just curious if I am odd on size of coop or am I not as worried as I should be?