Time in coop question

[Hargett]

Hello all,
I have had my flock for about a week now, and I’m curious about the time that they spend outdoors vs. in the coop. They are all around 20 weeks and should be laying soon, but I figure they will need to be familiar with their coop and nesting boxes before that will happen. Does is normally take a while for hens to get comfortable going into their coop? It’s about 3ft. Off the ground, and they just don’t seem to have interest in going up there. Thanks.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello all,
I have had my flock for about a week now, and I’m curious about the time that they spend outdoors vs. in the coop. They are all around 20 weeks and should be laying soon, but I figure they will need to be familiar with their coop and nesting boxes before that will happen. Does is normally take a while for hens to get comfortable going into their coop? It’s about 3ft. Off the ground, and they just don’t seem to have interest in going up there. Thanks.

Are these pullets in a run, or free range?
Generally speaking chickens only go into the coop to lay eggs and roost.
If they are free range then it might take a while for them to use the nest boxes. Fake eggs placed in the nesting boxes sometimes works.
Do they go into the coop at night on their own?

 

[chrissynemetz]

How big is their coop, and how many chickens do you have? If they feel crowded they tend to prefer being outside. But even if they have plenty of room, it usually does take them a while to get comfortable enough with their new home to start laying. And I agree, they normally only go in the coop to roost or lay eggs

 

[Hargett]

I have attached a picture below. They have 24sq ft. of coop space and 60sq. ft of outdoor run space. They have gone into the coop by themselves one time at night, but other times I have had to put them in. I currently have a few golf balls sitting in their boxes.

 

[so lucky]

It looks like it would be pretty dark in there. Do you have a light in the coop? Also, in our hot summer, it might just stay too hot in the coop at night.

 

[Hargett]

I don’t have a light in the coop. There’s a security light overhead, so it never gets completely dark back there. They seem comfortable enough at night, I was just curious about how long it typically takes for hens to start making their way in a new coop during the daytime to lay.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine only go in for bedtime, to eat (because I keep their main feeder indoors), to lay, and occasionally to escape a really bad storm, so not unusual at all to not see chickens inside the coop at other times.

For new layers or soon-to-be layers, some may not look at the nest boxes at all until they start laying (at which point I've found it easiest to show them the boxes by manually putting them in one when they show signs they're wanting to lay). Others may start exploring the boxes early, kicking bedding and fake eggs around as they inspect the boxes.

If they're not going in at night that's a different matter, if you've been putting them in at night they should start learning that soon.

 

[aart]

Might be hot and stuffy in there, plus didn't you just add new bird(s)?

 

[Hargett]

Might be hot and stuffy in there, plus didn't you just add new bird(s)?

Yes, I’ve had them for about a week. I added one a few days after the rest. I was just curious about the normal timetable for birds figuring out the coop.

 

[Steven Bussell]

It took us 2 weeks of throwing treats on the coop ramp to get them to put themselves to bed. If they are a close group of birds it could be because it's a all or nothing kind of thing.
We have a mixed flock
About a week ago the chicks were going into the coop with no problems. But as soon as the last one when in the ducks would be come upset and quack. Then all the chicks would come out. We had to put the ducks in by hand. Then the chicks start yelling and then the ducks start quaking.
Yesterday was the first day every one put themselves to bed.
They know as soon as I turn on the coop light and put the treat dish in its either they go peacefully or the hard way.
Now I need to get them to go in without a light so I can use a automatic door closer.
The life snuggles of keeping birds safe and happy.