They won't go in the coop!

[Samjo]

I'm brand new at chickens, so be patient with me! I have two 10-12 week old Rhode Island Red hens that I got from a nice gentleman a week ago today. He kept them in a probably 15x15 fence with two solid walls and a roof, but no coop to speak of. The area had plenty of roost, and of course food and water, but there was not a coop so to speak. There were probably 12-15 hens inside the fence all together. (There was shade and structure, just not an enclosed coop).

This is my coop and run. The coop is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2, and the run is about 11x 4 1/2 including the area under the coop. This pic was taken before I got the girls, and I have since added a couple of roost inside the run. That's where they're sleeping, on the roost out in the run, not the roost inside the coop. They spend most of their daylight hours under the coop area in the run.

My plan was, when I brought them home to lock them in the coop for a couple of days, until they got used to it, then open the door and let them discover the run area. Problem was, it was near 100 degrees and I didn't have the heart to lock them up. So I put them in the run, and let them go with that. They have never gone into the coop voluntarily that I know of. I have installed a small, 9 inch fan inside the coop. I thought light might be a problem since there's no windows, just two vents, so I added an LED light bulb, and a small string of "fairy lights". I also have food and water inside the coop.

Two nights ago, I forced them inside the coop at dusk, and had the light on. Around 9pm, I turned off the LED light, but left the "fairy lights" on so it wouldn't be complety dark. I opened the door to the coop around 5:00 am, on my way out to work. Wife said they came out shortly after daylight.

So last night, they slept in the run again, and to this point, I still don't think they've been inside the coop except the one night I put them in. I know the coop is a foreign idea to them, since they were loose in the previous owners pen for their whole lives, but I worry, when they get to laying age, will they drop eggs in the run, or will instinct finally tell them to go in the coop and find the nesting boxes?

Should I lock them in every night for a while? They fight me, and won't let me pick them up unless I corner them. It's stessfull on them, and me to be handled. Or am I worrying for nothing, and should let them discover the coop in their own good time?

What are the thoughts of you chicken gurus?

 

[Shadrach]

I'm brand new at chickens, so be patient with me! I have two 10-12 week old Rhode Island Red hens that I got from a nice gentleman a week ago today. He kept them in a probably 15x15 fence with two solid walls and a roof, but no coop to speak of. The area had plenty of roost, and of course food and water, but there was not a coop so to speak. There were probably 12-15 hens inside the fence all together. (There was shade and structure, just not an enclosed coop).

This is my coop and run. The coop is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2, and the run is about 11x 4 1/2 including the area under the coop. This pic was taken before I got the girls, and I have since added a couple of roost inside the run. That's where they're sleeping, on the roost out in the run, not the roost inside the coop. They spend most of their daylight hours under the coop area in the run.

My plan was, when I brought them home to lock them in the coop for a couple of days, until they got used to it, then open the door and let them discover the run area. Problem was, it was near 100 degrees and I didn't have the heart to lock them up. So I put them in the run, and let them go with that. They have never gone into the coop voluntarily that I know of. I have installed a small, 9 inch fan inside the coop. I thought light might be a problem since there's no windows, just two vents, so I added an LED light bulb, and a small string of "fairy lights". I also have food and water inside the coop.

Two nights ago, I forced them inside the coop at dusk, and had the light on. Around 9pm, I turned off the LED light, but left the "fairy lights" on so it wouldn't be complety dark. I opened the door to the coop around 5:00 am, on my way out to work. Wife said they came out shortly after daylight.

So last night, they slept in the run again, and to this point, I still don't think they've been inside the coop except the one night I put them in. I know the coop is a foreign idea to them, since they were loose in the previous owners pen for their whole lives, but I worry, when they get to laying age, will they drop eggs in the run, or will instinct finally tell them to go in the coop and find the nesting boxes?

Should I lock them in every night for a while? They fight me, and won't let me pick them up unless I corner them. It's stessfull on them, and me to be handled. Or am I worrying for nothing, and should let them discover the coop in their own good time?

What are the thoughts of you chicken gurus?


View attachment 3159898

A lot depends on the type of predators you get and the security of the run.
If the run has an anti dig hardware cloth skirt and the mesh on the coop is of a decent guage then I would let them roost where they like. When the weather is cool and often when it is wet, they will probably choose the shelter of the coop.
Even if they lay eggs in the run (under the coop looks likely) the area isn't too big to make finding the eggs a problem.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

Be patient. Chickens do not like change at all. When we went from a hen house, run into a new built coop our girls did not want into the new coop. All of them quit laying for a few weeks. We locked them in the new coop that night so the chickens could get used to the new coop. Next day they all came out running in the run. Our run was mostly the same except hubby put new walls around the run. Hens did get used to this by the next day.
Your hens is probably missing the Hens from where you picked them up at. Give them some time. You need windows in the coop. Chickens get hot allot. We have four windows plus a hatch to close them in if we want to.

 

[MadGardener]

Perhaps some food would encourage them. I'd try putting a feeder inside the coop during the day. Perhaps removing all food outside the coop a couple hours before sunset.

 

[Samjo]

A lot depends on the type of predators you get and the security of the run.

The entire run is hardware cloth, not chicken wire, and I have attached a 2 ft hardware cloth skirt all around the run. I think I'm in good shape, predator wise, but you never know.

 

[Samjo]

Perhaps some food would encourage them. I'd try putting a feeder inside the coop during the day. Perhaps removing all food outside the coop a couple hours before sunset.

I do have food and water inside the coop, but I haven't thought about removing the food and water from the run area. Maybe I should try that. Would it also be a good idea to remove the roost from the run area temporarily?

 

[aart]

Would it also be a good idea to remove the roost from the run area temporarily?

Yes.
they are not used to being enclosed.
And I can't zoom in on your pic but it doesn't look like there are any windows?
Windows and vents for light and circulation might be what's lacking.

Have they been inside the coop at all?
I would grab them off the run roost after dark and place them inside the coop, leave them there 24/7 for at least a couple days.

 

[Samjo]

And I can't zoom in on your pic but it doesn't look like there are any windows?
Windows and vents for light and circulation might be what's lacking.

You are correct, that there are no windows, however there are two vents, approximatly 6x12 on each side of the coop.

 

[aart]

You are correct, that there are no windows, however there are two vents, approximatly 6x12 on each side of the coop.

That's not likely to be enough ventilation in your climate.
Put a thermometer in there to check the temp.

Plus it's dark, no wonder they don't want to go in there.

 

[Samjo]

Plus it's dark, no wonder they don't want to go in there.

Remember, I did have lights inside, however I will look into putting in a couple of windows for light, and more ventilation.