Will chickens follow their mobile henhouse around the yard?

[countrybumpkinNYS]

I have three 15-week-old Rhode Island Red hens in a mobile coop that's been in the same place for about four weeks. I let the hens range free for most of every day, and they always go back to their coop when they're frightened and to roost at night. I want to move the coop today but I'm afraid the hens will go back to the location where the coop was, not to where I move it. Should I move it with them inside and then keep them inside until they get used to the new l ocation?

 

[oldchickenlady]

I moved my 10x10 run 2 times before I got the coop built. The chickens (12) went to the run at night each time I moved it, not to where it had been.

 

[MTFarm]

I've never had trouble moving our tractor. What kind of distance are you talking? If it's to a new area completely you might cut the distance and do it in steps if you're concerned but like I said, ours have always done just fine.

 

[countrybumpkinNYS]

Thanks! I'm not moving it far at all--maybe a dozen feet.

 

[acid_chipmunk]

My coops get moved every other day and they never have any problem finding it. And, we move them while they are out free ranging.

 

[countrybumpkinNYS]

I figured that if I moved the coop every day or so they'd have no problem, and I did so for the first couple of weeks. Then I decided I really didn't want them to be mobile, so I've left it in one spot. When they run to it, they run headlong, flapping and half-flying. It didn't look like they were even looking--just going by memory. That's why I worried that they'd return to the location, not the coop in its new spot. Anywhere, they're in there now and I'm keeping them there a few hours. When I let them out, I think they'll be cautious again about straying too far at first. We'll see.... But thanks to everyone who responded. This definitely is a learning experience (and fun!).