Topic of the week - Coop training the flock

[BDutch]

There is so much to tell. In general I had more ‘unaccounted’ nests and tree /hedge sleepers a few years ago than I have now.

Sleeping in trees

In winter I never had tree huggers, but in spring there are always one or two that like to try. Getting the chickens in the run an hour before sunset is the easiest way to avoid that. Favourite is a pear tree near the coop. But I had chickens on top of the the run door and in the Ivy hedge too. The pear tree was most difficult. Because when I tried to get them out they even flew higher. And if the chicken(s) sleep outside for a whole night you can be sure they like to repeat that. Unwanted habits are difficult to break. So its best to prevent them in the first place.

Getting free rangers in the run

To get the chickens in the run is easy. Feed them scratch, a few mealworms, bread, rice or another left over if you have about an hour before sunset inside the run and make the same sound /call every evening. I call “kippies” and shake the tin to call them. If there are any left behinds (happens most when I try to get them in om the middle of the day), I go behind them and clap my hands to encourage them to go in the other direction, to the coop.
I have no trouble at all with my adults. My 2 pullets are still learning but improving quickly.
To keep me wondering the adults won’t accept the 2 pullets to roost in the coop. Still working on that one. The pullets have their own mini coop in the run now.

About laying eggs

A fake egg in the nest-boxes works approx 95% of the time for my hens. Sometimes they lay eggs on another ‘comfy’ spot in the coop; in a bucket with sand or under the roosts. I had an occasional first ‘oops’ egg from a pullet. I was worse when I noticed a dropping in eggs to collect in the nest boxes or somewhere else in the coop/run. The outside nests also occur in spring or summer when its hatching season. If a hens dissapears and doesn’t come home to roost, its certain one or more chickens have made a nest somewhere in the wild.
Two things I could do:
1. Keep the chickens locked up in the run.
2. Follow the chickens after they are set free.
If the broody isn’t coming home to roost, she will come for breakfast. It’s important to keep her and the rest of the flock confined for several days if you don’t want her to sit and hatch. I can’t having no rooster. Try to discover the nest and tosh them if the eggs are old (egg dropping fast in water/open one by one).
Places with hidden nest I had over the years: Our compost pile. Our neighbours compost pile. Under a patch with blackerry bushes. Behind a pile of bricks/aside from the bicycle shed. It isn’t as bad as it sounds. The last 2 years I only had broody attempts in the nest boxes.

Chickens are such wonderful creatures with new surprises from time to time. I think it helps if chicks grow up with a broody who knows things from experience.

 

[Ponypoor]

Never had issues with egg laying. I made 15" square nest boxes, 1 box per 4 hens, & I did put fake eggs in at 1st, when I built the new coop but I didn't with the 2nd coop & they figured it out fine. I don't have curtains on mine but I guess they feel there's enough privacy.

I had some orange snow sticks hanging around, they came in handy when I wanted to point in the direction I wanted free rangers to go...yup, my sweetheart said the exact same thing, it looked like I was at the airport, the official guidance lady. But hey, it works! I call, Chickens & Guineas come running & all I gotta do is use the orange stick to point, and in they go, nighty night.

Most times my Homing Pigeons will stop flying & come on in for a landing when I call. The few that don't, I can rattle the grain in a coffee can & they'll come in.

They all know where they feel safe.

My hens lay eggs on their own schedule (throughout the day lol) So I check for eggs morning & dusk. If a hen is laying her egg, I've noticed all other chickens are respectful & don't mess with her. Some may gather around the box, and sing with her, as if to cheer her on. At times when the box is empty, I've seen a Roo mosey in & a few hens try to join him, as they all proceed to cluck & chortle softly. It cracks me up. Are they doing acoustic sound checks? View attachment 3608929View attachment 3608930

I have a chuckle when Mr P tries to get the hens to lay in specific locations. Yesterday he was behind my wheelbarrow snuggled into straw they had tore up and made a nest with. No hens anywhere, he was in there all comfy chortling and humming. He is such a good Roo but have to say his idea of nesting locations is in question.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Oh yeah, I do want to add a funny habit my RIR mix Henrietta has. When I go into each section I bring my shovel/scooper & a 5 gal. bucket, to scoop poop under the night perches. As I use wood chips, it is not just nasty poo by itself, but a combination of wood chips, plus I start with some chips in the bucket to avoid possible cecal poo sticking to the bottom of the bucket. Anyway...Henrietta, always loves the mere sight of a bucket & will immediately try to jump in. As I use 5 gal buckets when collecting dried flower seed heads, weeding, picking up storm debris & Magnolia leaves, or need to move anything easier, she gets plenty of bucket jumping opportunities. Most times, as I know how she is, I can sidetrack her with some squash or fresh corn to nibble while I clean. But if I get sidetracked by a phone call or text, guaranteed when I look over, she will be in that bucket! A few times she refused to budge, and dumping her out was not an option, as I didn't want to dump out the contents I just spent time putting in there. When even fresh produce or mealworms did not lure her out of the bucket, I knew something was amiss. Sure enough, within seconds, Henrietta lays a nice, big, brown egg! She is so proud afterwards, she stands up & preens a bit, & turns around about 3 times, carefully, not to step on the egg, and clucks loud & proud, as if to say, "Hey, look at me, look at what I just did!" It is hilarious . Then she hops down & goes for the treats. Funny girl!

 

[BDutch]

Oh yeah, I do want to add a funny habit my RIR mix Henrietta has. When I go into each section I bring my shovel/scooper & a 5 gal. bucket, to scoop poop under the night perches. As I use wood chips, it is not just nasty poo by itself, but a combination of wood chips, plus I start with some chips in the bucket to avoid possible cecal poo sticking to the bottom of the bucket. Anyway...Henrietta, always loves the mere sight of a bucket & will immediately try to jump in. As I use 5 gal buckets when collecting dried flower seed heads, weeding, picking up storm debris & Magnolia leaves, or need to move anything easier, she gets plenty of bucket jumping opportunities. Most times, as I know how she is, I can sidetrack her with some squash or fresh corn to nibble while I clean. But if I get sidetracked by a phone call or text, guaranteed when I look over, she will be in that bucket! A few times she refused to budge, and dumping her out was not an option, as I didn't want to dump out the contents I just spent time putting in there. When even fresh produce or mealworms did not lure her out of the bucket, I knew something was amiss. Sure enough, within seconds, Henrietta lays a nice, big, brown egg! She is so proud afterwards, she stands up & preens a bit, & turns around about 3 times, carefully, not to step on the egg, and clucks loud & proud, as if to say, "Hey, look at me, look at what I just did!" It is hilarious . Then she hops down & goes for the treats. Funny girl!

What a hilarious story!
Do enter it for the story contest as well (if there is any).

 

[Liz Birdlover]

What a hilarious story!
Do enter it for the story contest as well (if there is any).

I know, they are so entertaining, they make me take the time to watch & laugh every single day. I can't imagine life without them. Eggs are great, but their personalities & antics top the list of what I love most about them.

 

[crazy chicken ladies]

Our girls have always gone inside their coop at dark. The coop run combo seemed like the best option for us, as we live in the middle of the woods that home a lot of predators. The coop is inside a chained link fence. However, lately we have been opening all the doors and allowing the girls to roam around and explore. We are always out there with them, as we are doing some upgrades to their area. Six, nearly full-grown chickens do not fit in the coop that was listed to house 6 chickens. What a surprise. I am now really curious if they would all return to the coop come nightfall, if allowed to roam around until then.

 

[MiMito3]

When I get new birds. I usually confine them to the coop and run that I want them to use for about 10 days.

After that I let them out during the late afternoon for some ranging. I watch to make sure all of them go back in where they are supposed to be at dark. I do this for about a week if all goes well. Then they get longer free time.

Generally if they are laying the only nest boxes they will have access to during they confinement time frame will be those in the coop.

With a few exceptions most return lay and roost where I want them too.

Mine are going back in but they just lay in a pile by the door all night. I built my roosts for heavy birds so probably 2+ feet high. They refuse to use them. I’ve tried putting them on after dark but they all scream and cry and just jump back down and run to the corner by the door again. They are 13 weeks old. Should I just let them be?

 

[BDutch]

Mine are going back in but they just lay in a pile by the door all night. I built my roosts for heavy birds so probably 2+ feet high. They refuse to use them. I’ve tried putting them on after dark but they all scream and cry and just jump back down and run to the corner by the door again. They are 13 weeks old. Should I just let them be?

There must be a reason why they prefer sleeping by the door. Maybe because they like the fresh air? If so make much more ventilation in the coop. Roost too narrow or too hight? Some chickens like 0.5 feet high and a wide piece of wood or plank.
If you make a new thread with this question and add a few photo’s of your coop/run and chickens, surely there is someone who likes to help.

 

[MiMito3]

There must be a reason why they prefer sleeping by the door. Maybe because they like the fresh air? If so make much more ventilation in the coop. Roost too narrow or too hight? Some chickens like 0.5 feet high and a wide piece of wood or plank.
If you make a new thread with this question and add a few photo’s of your coop/run and chickens, surely there is someone who likes to help.

Ok I will do that. Thank you!

 

[crazy chicken ladies]

There is so much to tell. In general I had more ‘unaccounted’ nests and tree /hedge sleepers a few years ago than I have now.

Sleeping in treesView attachment 3610543
In winter I never had tree huggers, but in spring there are always one or two that like to try. Getting the chickens in the run an hour before sunset is the easiest way to avoid that. Favourite is a pear tree near the coop. But I had chickens on top of the the run door and in the Ivy hedge too. The pear tree was most difficult. Because when I tried to get them out they even flew higher. And if the chicken(s) sleep outside for a whole night you can be sure they like to repeat that. Unwanted habits are difficult to break. So its best to prevent them in the first place.

Getting free rangers in the runView attachment 3610546
To get the chickens in the run is easy. Feed them scratch, a few mealworms, bread, rice or another left over if you have about an hour before sunset inside the run and make the same sound /call every evening. I call “kippies” and shake the tin to call them. If there are any left behinds (happens most when I try to get them in om the middle of the day), I go behind them and clap my hands to encourage them to go in the other direction, to the coop.
I have no trouble at all with my adults. My 2 pullets are still learning but improving quickly.
To keep me wondering the adults won’t accept the 2 pullets to roost in the coop. Still working on that one. The pullets have their own mini coop in the run now.

About laying eggs
View attachment 3610547
A fake egg in the nest-boxes works approx 95% of the time for my hens. Sometimes they lay eggs on another ‘comfy’ spot in the coop; in a bucket with sand or under the roosts. I had an occasional first ‘oops’ egg from a pullet. I was worse when I noticed a dropping in eggs to collect in the nest boxes or somewhere else in the coop/run. The outside nests also occur in spring or summer when its hatching season. If a hens dissapears and doesn’t come home to roost, its certain one or more chickens have made a nest somewhere in the wild.
Two things I could do:
1. Keep the chickens locked up in the run.
2. Follow the chickens after they are set free.
If the broody isn’t coming home to roost, she will come for breakfast. It’s important to keep her and the rest of the flock confined for several days if you don’t want her to sit and hatch. I can’t having no rooster. Try to discover the nest and tosh them if the eggs are old (egg dropping fast in water/open one by one).
Places with hidden nest I had over the years: Our compost pile. Our neighbours compost pile. Under a patch with blackerry bushes. Behind a pile of bricks/aside from the bicycle shed. It isn’t as bad as it sounds. The last 2 years I only had broody attempts in the nest boxes.

Chickens are such wonderful creatures with new surprises from time to time. I think it helps if chicks grow up with a broody who knows things from experience.

I've heard people say they use golf balls instead of fake eggs. I don't know if they are cheaper, or what. Do you have an opinion on using golf balls?