HELP - Introducing hens to new home

[jmhulsey]

My wife and I are very new to all of this and would like some guidance with introducing our chickens to their new home. We picked up 5 hens (3 barred rock, 2 orpington, 5 months old) yesterday and transitioned them into their new coop. The coop has a run area and a ladder/ramp that leads to their roost and nesting boxes. I just read that it is best to introduce the new chickens by keeping them in the roost for at least three days before allowing them to explore the run. Unfortunately, I did not read this bit of advice beforehand and our new chickens have been in the run for about 12 hours. What should we do now?? I want to make sure they learn to roost at night and get comfortable with how/when to access the roost. Your help is very much appreciated!

 

[DobieLover]

My wife and I are very new to all of this and would like some guidance with introducing our chickens to their new home. We picked up 5 hens (3 barred rock, 2 orpington, 5 months old) yesterday and transitioned them into their new coop. The coop has a run area and a ladder/ramp that leads to their roost and nesting boxes. I just read that it is best to introduce the new chickens by keeping them in the roost for at least three days before allowing them to explore the run. Unfortunately, I did not read this bit of advice beforehand and our new chickens have been in the run for about 12 hours. What should we do now?? I want to make sure they learn to roost at night and get comfortable with how/when to access the roost. Your help is very much appreciated!

Can you post some pictures of your setup?
Have they been wandering into the coop?

 

[jmhulsey]

Can you post some pictures of your setup?
Have they been wandering into the coop?

They have not wandered into the coop. Not that I know of.

 

[jmhulsey]

Can you post some pictures of your setup?
Have they been wandering into the coop?

Should I put them in the coop at night and close door to get them in the habit?

 

[Sequel]

Those are beautiful chickens and a cute coop, but seems to be very small. Can those birds even fit in there? You can certainly try to put them in at night, many people do that sometimes for weeks depending on how long it takes them to go to roost themselves. Good luck!

 

[jmhulsey]

Those are beautiful chickens and a cute coop, but seems to be very small. Can those birds even fit in there? You can certainly try to put them in at night, many people do that sometimes for weeks depending on how long it takes them to go to roost themselves. Good luck!

The coop is built to house up to 8, and based on square footage requirements I’ve seen on here that number seems to be accurate. I think 6 would be the max though, personally.

 

[CCUK]

So long as there run and coop is self contained you should be fine. I have just taken 4 hens in from someone who had to rehome them. The first two nights I had to coax them in but that took all of 5 minutes! Third night they take themselves in. If you let them out of the into the garden then you may want to leave them in the run for a couple more days so they definately know where to go back for food and water and the all important egg laying! Good luck with your flock! They are beautiful birds!

 

[Mrs. K]

Birds that age know how to roost. You might have to put them in there one or two nights, but I would expect them to figure it out quickly.

Do NOT lock them in that coop, I would be very afraid of them over heating on a hot day. Being the run is attached - you should be good to go.

Mrs K

 

[Sequel]

Birds that age know how to roost. You might have to put them in there one or two nights, but I would expect them to figure it out quickly.

Do NOT lock them in that coop, I would be very afraid of them over heating on a hot day. Being the run is attached - you should be good to go.

Mrs K

X2!

 

[DobieLover]

The coop is built to house up to 8, and based on square footage requirements I’ve seen on here that number seems to be accurate. I think 6 would be the max though, personally.

You have 5 hens. The coop size should be 15 sq feet minimum, not including nest boxes. The run should be 50 sq ft, minimum. They are cramped. I would build on to that run and give them more space.