Will redesigning coop cause stress?

[TheLittleFarm18]

Now that I've had my small free ranging chickens for about 20+/- weeks I would like to move their roosts and change the sizes of nesting boxes (they just started to lay and won't use the nesting boxes in there, even with fake eggs)

Coop is a 12x8 shed.
Run is 25 sq ft, but they free range on 80 acers.
11 hens one roo.

Would making adjusting the roost to a slightly different spot and adding a couple different sized nest freak them out and make them not only still not lay in there but also not want to go in at night?

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

If you make the adjustments and see that sort of behavior all you have to do is shut them in for a few days and they will adjust. I don't think they will stress, they might act a bit bewildered for a short period of time but they will get used to it. One of the Roo's jobs is to show the girls where to lay their eggs, so you might try introducing him to the new set up first then let him bring the girls in for a look see.

 

[TheLittleFarm18]

Good idea having the roo check it out first. My roo takes very good care of his girls.... although one of my chickens ran his a** over yesterday getting out of the coop so she could go lay in her favorite outside nest ... usually he come out of coop first then calls them out

 

[aart]

still not lay in there

I'd lock them in now until they get with the program of using the coop nests.
Unless your nests are really unusable(pics would help here).
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.


Changing anything in the coop may cause anything from mild bewilderment
(good word choice @Bryant Redhawk ) to outright neurosis.

 

[snow5164]

Will changing your coop cause stress to your chickens ?

If the wind changes directions your chickens will stress .....they are sensitive creatures

 

[TheLittleFarm18]

I locked chickens in til late afternoon til she laid in the new bigger nest box I rigged up( a dog house) and she laid in it!!! Or so I thought, I seen the egg, and let them out to free range, couple hours later the one hen I had laying went into coop all by herself and laid in the dog house...I have two layers...well now 3 and they all loving the new bigger dog house box...I have another I'll add and just take out the 3 smaller ones they obviously don't like. If rain holds off this weekend I'll adjust the roosts .
I'm not sure why I worry so much, they really seem to get use to things fast, knock on wood they have been easy going and end up doing exactly what I want them to do

 

[aart]

I'm not sure why I worry so much, they really seem to get use to things fast, knock on wood they have been easy going and end up doing exactly what I want them to do

Takes some practice and experience, ya just don't know until ya know, but they are fairly easy to 'manipulate'.