Chickens trying to escape coop

[Taylorchickens]

Okay so I just got 4 - 6week old hens. Three brahmas and a brown ISA. They are in the big coop now with food, water, and bedding. The problem is that they keep trying to obsessively escape the coop when I put them up at night. They crawl up my arm, fly at the door, climb on top of each other to dig out. I have no idea why. I have had them for three days now. They just started doing it this evening. They were out in the run most of the day and free ranged under my watch.

The coop holds up to 10 chickens so they have more than enough space. There’s an open vent in the coop so air can get through.

Maybe it’s just a baby chicken thing? Maybe they are just excited? I just want to be sure they are happy and not feeling suffocated or something. I’m new to chickens! Thanks for any advice !

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of your set up please? Is this a brand new coop, or did you get it used - asking because if it's used, did you check for mites?

 

[Perris]

I just got 4 - 6week old hens

if you mean this literally - they are 4-6 weeks old, and you just acquired them (say yesterday or day or two before) - then I imagine they want to go home to wherever is the only place they've known as yet in their short lives. In that case, they'll adjust, but give them lots of TLC.

and welcome to BYC

 

[Lor]

They sound a bit scared. New place and all. Was it getting dark or dark inside the coop?
My pullets were afraid when they first went out into the coop (new place) as they were also used to having a little light in the garage while in the brooder and now in the dark.

 

[Taylorchickens]

if you mean this literally - they are 4-6 weeks old, and you just acquired them (say yesterday or day or two before) - then I imagine they want to go home to wherever is the only place they've known as yet in their short lives. In that case, they'll adjust, but give them lots of TLC.

and welcome to BYC

Yes, I just got them! They just turned 6 weeks and just got moved from the brooder to the big coop. Maybe that’s what it is, just a little nervous and trying to adjust.

Thank you!

 

[Taylorchickens]

They sound a bit scared. New place and all. Was it getting dark or dark inside the coop?
My pullets were afraid when they first went out into the coop (new place) as they were also used to having a little light in the garage while in the brooder and now in the dark.

I wondered if it possibly had to do with being scared. We had a HUGE monsoon of a storm the night before with lightning and thunder. They were inside the coop but again, the vent was open and it was completely outdoors. It was only their second night outside the brooder. Totally dark. So I was thinking maybe they remembered the storm plus it was dark and didn’t want to go back in

 

[Taylorchickens]

Photos of your set up please? Is this a brand new coop, or did you get it used - asking because if it's used, did you check for mites?

Yes, it’s a brand new coop! Here is a photo below. I put them in the enclosed part at night time and let them out into the sun during the day. I also will let them free range but only a short time and with me watching right now.

 

[Lor]

I wondered if it possibly had to do with being scared. We had a HUGE monsoon of a storm the night before with lightning and thunder. They were inside the coop but again, the vent was open and it was completely outdoors. It was only their second night outside the brooder. Totally dark. So I was thinking maybe they remembered the storm plus it was dark and didn’t want to go back in

Same happened to us. Their first 2 nights in the coop it stormed. Add in the fact their first few nights in the dark, makes sense they're a bit scared.

 

[mcdze]

just get them alittle hungry and hang out with them by the coop for awhile .. entice them in with some food, may take a few days for them to adjust to you and the coop ..

 

[carlaashdown]

Yes, probably scared. A few years ago, we built a new chicken house and put 6 hens and a rooster in it. Within the first few days, we turned a sprinkler on close by to water some newly seeded grass. I guess the sound of the sprinkler was scary inside the new coop, so they were terrified to go back in for days. Chickens are crazy lol