Terrified of their hen house

[Stephine]

In my (very new) experience it is darkness and newness that will freak chicks out. Scared behavior is crowding together in a corner or other "sheltered" spot, standing upright, wide eyed and sometimes chirping loudly. Is that what they do?
If so I bet it is the light. I would put them in much earlier and have a light actually in the house, a little flashlight. If the light is only on the outside it'll still be much darker in the coop and the sudden change from light to dark is what they are spooked by. Much better if they are in their house while it's still nice and bright in there and just gradually have it get darker. Or, if you can't put them in early, have a light inside, so they can see and get themselves comfy.
We had the brooder off the kitchen and nothing would freak the chicks out like a sudden change in how we turned off the lights at night. I had to figure out a sequence that was gradual enough for them and stick to it. So glad they are outside now. I lock them in one hour before sunset and they have no problem with the transition to dark at all now.

 

[momto5ladies]

Thank you all so very much for your feedback and suggestions. I'm going to try putting them in early tonight while its still light. Lets see if that helps (fingers crossed).

Not able to post pictures yet but they have a lovely, and large hen house. During the day I find them laying in there near the door looking out. They are able to get up and down the ramp ok. I keep both coops super clean as I have Stage 4 Lung cancer and this has been my dream to have chickens but I do have to keep it really clean,.

Thankfully, they are still in the coop in the garage where I have control of the light so I'm able to leave a light on all night, Right now I start reducing the light about 8 pm (I have different lights I can turn on and off) hoping they will start to settle down. But when I go out after 9 they are still up and playing around. Usually I sit with them for awhile but when I try to get them into the house that's when they go to the back of the coop and suddenly do what they can to stay there. I've never wanted to be one to force an animal into doing something, rather I try to coax them over and towards the house. At this point they are peeping like crazy and trying to get against the coop wall furthest from me. They are not hitting the coop sides trying to get out, but more simply staying out of my reach.

Once I'm able to coax one forward without having it run back I'm able to pick it up and place her in the house. At that point I'm trying to catch the other one while leaving the door so the first one don't feel trapped alone. Oddly enough they don't so much try to get out (that first one I'm talking about) but instead she will run to the exterior door and start pecking on that really hard while peeping. At this point everyone is peeping out of control. I then catch the second one and put her up with the first one. She then runs over to the exterior door and they are both pecking like crazy to get out! Not to mention all the cries for help!!!

I close the interior door and have to open the exterior door to try to comfort them. That's when they try to break out. One night Thelma even flew onto my head, but usually I just put my arm in there and pet them and try to comfort them. I don't bring them out at this point as I know I'm doing what's right for them and I can't be bringing them out every night in hopes of getting them to settle. I'm trying to be a good Mom to them but it breaks my heart to see them so upset every night (heck, I have tears in my eyes just writing this).

So I'll try with the lighting tonight and see how it goes. Someone also suggested this takes time so I have hope on that end. Any further suggestions, feedback is greatly appreciated. I so love this birds and want them to be happy.

 

[Stephine]

See if tou can train them to come when called: have a super special treat (mealworms, raisins or berries) that they only get when you call them (always the same call for that treat).
Once they are trained to that, you can call them from the exterior door, so they go into the coop to get their treat. Make it last (sprinkle small pieces on the ground) so they are busy with that long enough for you to run back to the interior door and close it.
That should eliminate some of the drama of having to get caught and might help set them up for a more peaceful bedtime.
(I have trained my chicks from day 2 with this method while they were still in the brooder and when I call them they fall over each other to get to me first, all 15 of them. This is how I lock them up at night).

 

[FridayYet]

Just make sure it is lighter in the coop than in the garage - having a light on for 20 minutes in the coop after the garage gets dark should help, like someone mentioned above. The food idea that Stephine posted is a good one, too.

I also agree they are spoiled and clingy, and would rather cuddle with you then go to sleep. Try a little tough love and they will be much better off in the long run.

 

[momto5ladies]

Last night was much better. I put them in earlier than usual. Since it was early I think they thought I was going to play with them as they ran right over to me.

Now is there anything I should be sure to do when I put them in their outdoor coop? Any suggestions on things I can do to make the transition easier for them?

 

[bobbi-j]

Frankly, I'd just put them out there and let them adjust. My chicks start out in the coop from day one. They were in a brooder for 2 weeks, then the brooder was taken out and they had the freedom of a 4x8 pen in the coop. A few weeks after that, they were introduced to the adult hens who taught them "chicken manners".

 

[Stephine]

Last night was much better.  I put them in earlier than usual. Since it was early I think they thought I was going to play with them as they ran right over to me.


Now is there anything I should be sure to do when I put them in their outdoor coop?  Any suggestions on things I can do to make the transition easier for them?

Glad to hear that!

For the transition to the outside coop I would move them in the morning or early afternoon so that they have a whole day to become familiar with the new surroundings before bedtime.
I moved mine out midday and they were busy exploring their new digs all day and then settled without drama at night. I have a long roost down one side of the coop past two wi dows and a droppings board underneath. Turns out they thiught it was the bees knees to lie on the board in the windows and look out as it got dark. So cute. I actually went out to dinner that night so am not sure if they went through some anxiety at nightfall, but I doubt it. They sure looked comfortable when I left them and I didn't hear a piep out of them when we returned. They behave as if they have always done this - and now about half of them seem to actually sleep on the roosts. They're growing up...