Where should teenage chicks sleep

[Elegant Chick]

I have an existing flock of (3) 4-year old hens. I purchased (3) coop ready chicks a couple of weeks ago. The chicks live in a dog cage in the run with the older girls. I have opened the cage door and they can wander out anytime they like. The older girls leave them alone, but the chicks are still afraid of them. Currently the chicks sleep on top of the dog cage at night. Should I be training them to go in the coop at night? My run is predator proof. No predators have gotten in the last 4 years. The chicks are 8 weeks old.

 

[staceyj]

I would start “putting them to bed” in the coop at night providing you have plenty of roosting space.
Transfer them gently after they are asleep.
No need to tempt fate !

 

[chickens really]

Possibly set up another Roost if you can away from the older Birds...Lock them in to teach them to consider the Coop as home. You might always have two sub flocks..

 

[Elegant Chick]

Thanks. Do you think when they are bigger they will just follow the others to the coop?

 

[Krazyquilts]

Thanks. Do you think when they are bigger they will just follow the others to the coop?

After a few days to a week of you putting them to bed in the coop, they will start sleeping there of their own accord.

 

[RWise]

Once they get the idea, they will go in after the older birds go to roost. Mine (at 6-7 weeks old now) mix in with the older girls, even move them from their warm roost. So some hens are on the 6' roosts, while the chicks are on the 8' roosts (with the rooster and a few hens). A bit of training and all is good!
Edit, where should teenage chicks sleep,, with the flock!

 

[Cryss]

I had my young'uns in a dog cage inside the run. When I finally let them out I spent an hour inside the run to supervise. Then I sat in a lawn chair outside the run for another hour. (Supervising, yeah, supervising) There was no serious problems, the usual expected pecking order routine, the young'uns learning to keep their respectful distance. At that point I removed the cage giving them more run room. That night they were perched on a run roost. I popped them inside the coop on a roost and closed the doors. All was well in the morning. The second night the young'uns made their own way into the coop.
Teach them now before they begin to think the top of the cage is home. Take it away and put them inside the coop. They'll get it quickly. I've done this twice with new young'uns.

 

[aart]

A couple weeks isn't very long, I wouldn't force the matter yet.
Be glad they are all getting along, sounds like integration went well.
As long as your run is predator proof just leave them be.

How big is your coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics, inside and out, might help.
Putting up a separate roost for the youngers is always a good idea.

 

[lazy gardener]

Is your run weather proof as well? A sudden middle of the night rain storm will not be fun for anyone involved in this scenario.

 

[Elegant Chick]

Is your run weather proof as well? A sudden middle of the night rain storm will not be fun for anyone involved in this scenario.

A roof covers the entire run. When I first got them, I put a tarp on one end of the dog cage to keep them out of the rain. It hasn't rained for the past month now.