i somehow acquired 2 runaways and i have questions. please help

[redinator]

Try a dim battery powered light. I had trouble getting my chicks (no older birds to teach them) to go in the coop at night until I added a light that I turned on just before sundown. It only took a few days, now they don't need it.

 

[NameIwish]

aw, thanks! i will attach a photo, and hopefully you’ll be able to see what i plan to do. there is a space in my garden between two sheds that i put the coop in. i want to fence off the top and front with a proper door. it’s protected on 3 sides, which is why i picked that spot. we have foxes coming around sometimes. the in between sheds space is about 6feet wide by 9 feet long.
i know it’s not the best type of coop but this was all sort of thrown upon me and i did what i could as fast as i could. i did get the one advertised for 4 chickens instead of 2 because i learned they are smaller than they say.
i have been reading a lot and watching a lot of videos. i got them layered pellet feed that i have in one of those plastic feeders under the coop in the covered area, and a water one too. and i got a little thing that i attached in under the coop on the fencing that has grit mixed with oyster shell stuff. they also use the birdbath i have in the garden to drink and i give them treats of meal worms and sunflower seeds. i try giving them kitchen scraps but they couldn’t be bothered (i have a whole cabbage and a watermelon taking up fridge space that i bought just for them but they refused. lol!) they seem to prefer grass and bugs. they knock on my door and peek in the windows if i’m not out there with them.

i was thinking that after being cooped up with crazy thelma for 6 days, she just needed some alone time.
please excuse the mess. it’s a work in progress. oh! i have sand at the bottom of the run now and will probably get some wood chips to throw in there. and we will move the stones and fill the whole lot with the same.
thank you for your advice!

I always thought the 'run' should be a place where grass and weeds and stuff grew - frequented by various an sundry 'bugs.'

Been keeping chickens for about seventeen years now. Not an expert or a 'fancier,' just golden comets (sex-inked layers) and one or two odd ones born here or picked up cheap once in a while.

Basically, they do all right with cracked corn and layer crumbles and their choice of whatever 'table scraps' we toss into the run/coop(s) and then whatever they can get 'free-ranging' when let out in the afternoon.

 

[pollipazzi]

Try a dim battery powered light. I had trouble getting my chicks (no older birds to teach them) to go in the coop at night until I added a light that I turned on just before sundown. It only took a few days, now they don't need it.

thanks! i just today put a trellis on the run roof with fake ivy and solar fairy lights. i hope they like it.

 

[pollipazzi]

I always thought the 'run' should be a place where grass and weeds and stuff grew - frequented by various an sundry 'bugs.'

Been keeping chickens for about seventeen years now. Not an expert or a 'fancier,' just golden comets (sex-inked layers) and one or two odd ones born here or picked up cheap once in a while.

Basically, they do all right with cracked corn and layer crumbles and their choice of whatever 'table scraps' we toss into the run/coop(s) and then whatever they can get 'free-ranging' when let out in the afternoon.

a run probably should be that! but having chickens was not even on my radar. i’m trying to make it as chicken friendly as possible with the space i have. i’m really really trying. i never see cracked corn in the feed places here. i only ever see corn in wild birdseed with a bunch of other seeds. is that the same kind of thing?

 

[pollipazzi]

I think your lock up time would be happier for them if you close in the area where you have the coop. I thought you said you might cover the top and front and put in a door. If you do that then you can add a roost or two in that area and see if they are happier until the time of day that you let them out to roam. I used natural tree limbs for some of their roosts which seem to make them very happy and would give a natural setting for them.

i will definitely be trying to cover the front and top! i’m sure they would be happier if they had more space. i need to recuperate from some big expenses first. but in the meantime, i got an extension that you can get for that flimsy coop run, and i put a trellis on the roof of it with fake ivy and fairy lights hoping it’s less exposed looking and more tree-like. i’m on the lookout for limbs!

 

[CombNWattles]

a run probably should be that! but having chickens was not even on my radar. i’m trying to make it as chicken friendly as possible with the space i have. i’m really really trying. i never see cracked corn in the feed places here. i only ever see corn in wild birdseed with a bunch of other seeds. is that the same kind of thing?

Cracked corn isn’t essential; just layer it all flock feed is fine. I think you’re doing great! It’s kind of you to put all this effort in when you didn’t even plan to get chickens. <3

 

[pollipazzi]

Try a dim battery powered light. I had trouble getting my chicks (no older birds to teach them) to go in the coop at night until I added a light that I turned on just before sundown. It only took a few days, now they don't need it.

i didn’t really think the fairy lights through because it has to be pretty dark for them to come on
but i have one of those sort of puck shaped lights with a remote. do you think that would work? and do you hang your light up? or where do you put it?

 

[pollipazzi]

Cracked corn isn’t essential; just layer it all flock feed is fine. I think you’re doing great! It’s kind of you to put all this effort in when you didn’t even plan to get chickens. <3

thank you

 

[redinator]

i didn’t really think the fairy lights through because it has to be pretty dark for them to come on
but i have one of those sort of puck shaped lights with a remote. do you think that would work? and do you hang your light up? or where do you put it?

I just set it in the coop (where they sleep and roost at night) next to their food and water.

Something like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/EAL30R-1000-Lumen-Rechargeable-Lantern/11542952308?fulfillmentIntent=Delivery&filters=[{"intent":"fulfillmentIntent","values":["Delivery"]}]&classType=REGULAR&from=/search should do the trick. Chickens don't care about how pretty it is and they will find a way to poop on it, lol, so you shouldn't either.

Set it to the lowest brightness so it doesn't over stimulate them and keep them up all night.

I also recently discovered the light in the coop teaches the chicks to go in the coop when it's overcast and raining. If the weather is dreary and dark outside they migrate to the light in the coop.

If you have outdoor lights: porch, deck, patio turn those off so the light in the coop is brighter than the sounding area and draws them into the coop.

 

[pollipazzi]

I just set it in the coop (where they sleep and roost at night) next to their food and water.

Something like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/EAL30R-1000-Lumen-Rechargeable-Lantern/11542952308?fulfillmentIntent=Delivery&filters=[{"intent":"fulfillmentIntent","values":["Delivery"]}]&classType=REGULAR&from=/search should do the trick. Chickens don't care about how pretty it is and they will find a way to poop on it, lol, so you shouldn't either.

Set it to the lowest brightness so it doesn't over stimulate them and keep them up all night.

I also recently discovered the light in the coop teaches the chicks to go in the coop when it's overcast and raining. If the weather is dreary and dark outside they migrate to the light in the coop.

If you have outdoor lights: porch, deck, patio turn those off so the light in the coop is brighter than the sounding area and draws them into the coop.

oh! i think i have something similar to that. i have this exact one handy. any use?
https://www.lightinthebox.com/p/10-...Pq75_eHrRbONdWvF5eRL9RkSjhQdFeMBoCy40QAvD_BwE

i do have grow lights for my tomato and pepper plants inside one of the sheds. maybe i can just change the timer around a little. it’s a purple light.
thank you for your help!