Will it upset the chickens if I relocate their coop within the yard?

[maggiegigs]

I'd need to relocate the girls coop. They have had the entire backyard as their run but I want to cut it in half for them and the other half for us. Will this cause any problems?

 

[midd2005]

quite likely, but they will get over it in a couple days.

 

[elmo]

So you free range them, is that right? You're wondering if they'll put themselves to bed as usual if the coop is in a new location? Maybe. Maybe not.

If they don't go into the relocated coop at sundown, you could herd them in for a few nights until they get used to it. I herd my flock of chickens around to their different pens using a small rake in one hand and a long handled pooper scooper in the other. It took them a little while but they quickly got used to the routine and now it's quite easy to move them (well, all except one chicken known as "Wrong Way Scooter," but that's a whole 'nother story).

The other thing you could try is locking your flock inside the coop for a few days until they get used to the new location...but then you'd have all that poo to clean up inside.

 

[maggiegigs]

Yes, I am worried that they will not go back into their coop. I free range them in a 1/4 acre paddock fence area and they are doing well.
But they are constantly on my deck and pooping their little brains out. There is only two of them (orpingtons) but my goodness somtimes we can not get over the size of their "dumplings"!

So I wanted to move their coop to the other side of the paddock with only 1/2 of the paddock for free ranging (to keep them off the deck and patio. I will just have to herd them for a while. Thanks for the advise.

 

[MamaChic21]

don't worry they'll be fine. They got use to your deck, they'll get use to their new spot, just matter of time and that won't take long

 

[annie3001]

they might be okay. perhaps they like the deck. they will return to the deck to poop. again. again. again. again. (sorry i got a little carried away.)

 

[catdaddy66]

I have a similar but larger problem. My coop was built on the ground but I know now that I need to elevate it and move it about 50' to a more optimal spot in the yard. These birds have never been out of the coop as I have no secure run and lost 30 birds in April 2010 to dogs! I was not going to let that happen again. But my question is will the move with them inside the coop be overly traumatic or will they adjust well? I am going to make a predator proof run once they are moved (I now have enough material) so they can get out of the coop once it is relocated. What do you guys think?

The large coop in the foreground needs to be moved next to the smaller coop in the background and elevated.

 

[BWKatz]

Relocating the coop won't upset the chickens. Just make sure u put some kind of light in it to intice them in(even a flashlight will do) I move mine in a pen all over the yard (2 acres)normally and they always find their way back. One night I was late to let them out of the pen and they managed to get out and were sitting on a bench by the garage door when I got home(the coop is in the garage). As to moving the coop with them in it, I wouldn't. I'd be afraid they'd get injured.

 

[Pharm Girl]

Those of us with chicken tractors relocate them often. I usually throw some treats in the tractor after its moved so they are enticed to run in and get a good look. They always seem to find it when it's time for bed.

 

[pluckinaround]

We are seemingly always redoing parts of this old place and have had to readjust chickens and ducks... I find a little veggie treat does the trick. When we moved the coop I let the ladies (and gentlbirds) out to play and nibble (we had a terrible pooping problem, right out my back bedroom steps, coffee and chicken poop in the morning!) we moved the coop, chickens looked a bit lost. Got the big kitchen bowl of scraps and clucked (I have clucked at them since they were babies and they will come running if i do the "mama cluck"! I gave them their treats in the coop (not a usualy thing) and closed the door. The next day they woke up free ranged and came back to the new home. I did give them more treats but that was for just being cute!