Transitioning pullets to new coop

[chjcoughlan]

I have 3 beautiful sussex hens who are about 22 weeks old. First time chicken owner. They seem very healthy and happy so far but I think the coop I bought them is a bit small. It was a cheap and nasty option and I always preferred the look and ease of the Omlet Cube. I want to upgrade and looking for some advice (I am happy with my decision to change so not looking to start an opinion war on the Omlet products).

My hens haven't started laying yet and they have been sleeping in their nest box which is annoying. The cube has the ability to block off the nest box so this was definitely part of the appeal. My questions are as follows:

- any advice on transitioning them from the old coop to the new coop?
- if I block off the nest boxes, what time of a morning do people recommend opening access up? Not sure when they usually will lay

Any other advice or suggestions relating purely to the transition etc would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

Are they in a run or free range?

Ours are free range and when moving them about an acre away from a growout pen to the coop, we do it right before dusk. We lock them out of their coop, and put a battery lantern by the chicken door of the main coop they're to head to. Hubby puts a broom in each hand and gets behind them to rustle them along to their new coop. It's been a four-day process we've learned.

It's actually darker than this picture shows it is.

 

[rosemarythyme]

- any advice on transitioning them from the old coop to the new coop?

Remove or block off the old coop entirely, then manually pick them up and place them in the new one once it's dark.

- if I block off the nest boxes, what time of a morning do people recommend opening access up? Not sure when they usually will lay

Not in the morning, not unless you're consistently up before sunrise. You'll need to open access at night after they go to bed.

 

[chjcoughlan]

Remove or block off the old coop entirely, then manually pick them up and place them in the new one once it's dark.

Not in the morning, not unless you're consistently up before sunrise. You'll need to open access at night after they go to bed.

Ahh ok so no real way to stop them sleeping in their nest boxes then?

 

[BDutch]

Omlet coops look fancy but I have no experience with them. I never bought one bc I don’t like the lay-out, cant adjust anything easily if needed bc of the plastic. And they cost a lot for a small space. Add ons are expensive too. I presume they are not a good solutions in many climates. Where do you live? Article for advice on small vs large coops. : https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ters-and-the-benefits-of-a-taller-coop.79938/

I would connect the two coops with a run in between. Lock them up for a few days. Let the chickens choose where they want to roost. If the new coop is better for them, the chickens will go there by themselves.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ahh ok so no real way to stop them sleeping in their nest boxes then?

You close them before dusk, reopen them once it's completely dark.

 

[BDutch]

My hens haven't started laying yet and they have been sleeping in their nest box which is annoying.

If you have a roost for them that is comfortable, spacious and higher up than the nestboxes the chickens will prefer to roost. Maybe you need to help a bit. Pick them up when its almost dark and put them on the roost yourself.

After a few days they go up there themselves.