Will my chickens adjust to a new coop?

[cmom]

I move my birds around all of the time. Part of the year I use most of the coops and pens for breeding and other time of the year I dedicate a couple of coops for grow-out (no nest boxes), other times I convert a couple of the breeding coops as bachelor coops. They do get used to them. It takes a few days. Good luck and have fun...

 

[cmom]

I do have 15 watt LCD bulbs in all of the coops. I think the light helps as they are used to the light from the other coops. They are used to the lights from hatch.

 

[Kylo_Hen!]

View attachment 1581334 We currently have a small flock of 7 free range chickens who are very much in a routine of exiting their coop when the sun rises, foraging all day, and returning to their coop for night. We are now in the process of renovating our garage into a new, larger, more weather- and predator-proof coop for them. Are they likely to adjust right away?

I’m afraid that they will just perch in a tree in the yard rather than go to the opposite side of the yard that they are less familiar with to get in their new coop. Does anyone have experience with this? Should I leave them inside for a couple days and then let them outside again when they seem comfortable?

Not an urgent question but I’d like their transition to be as smooth and stress free as possible!

yes it may take i wile and she may not lay for a few days but she will!

 

[aart]

I move my birds around all of the time.

But are they free ranged?

 

[LemonyCatapult]

Since it sounds like the coop will be well sized for the number of birds locking them in a few days shouldn't cause any issues. I also got a new coop this past spring and locked my girls in for 2 days. They were a little confused on day 3 and had to be herded towards the new coop but after that they got the hang of it without any further intervention.

Great! That makes me feel optimistic

 

[PattyNH]

I just moved my 2 older hens from the coop they've been in for 2 years to a new, bigger coop I made in my barn as I have 12 new pullets/cockrels that are are around 8-10 weeks old and it was time to integrate them. All moved into the new coop the same day. I gave my older hens the option of coming out every day (they free range from 7am - 7pm give or take). They didn't want to leave the coop until Saturday, which was day 11 -- I wanted the new chicks to spend at least a week in the new coop to understand that was where they "live"/sleep. Saturday was the first day the older girls wanted out. They went back to their old nightly roosting spot so, as before, I have to carry their butts up to the new coop every night. They're fine with their new home, but just buck to their old routine (I just have further to haul them). Speaking of, it's 40° and raining and I need yo go tote their spoiled butts to bed...

 

[cmom]

But are they free ranged?

They get time out but each pen is 20' x 60'. I don't let them out as much in the summer but the pasture only has a couple of trees. Each pen has a nice shade tree and a shade/rain table for them to get under so even when I do let them out they may come out but generally not for long because they would rather be in the shade. Now that the weather is cooling off I'll let them out more. My situation is different than most because I have more than a backyard flock. Currently around 300 birds.

 

[aart]

My situation is different than most because I have more than a backyard flock.

..and different that the OP's situation as theirs free range daily.
Your birds are mostly confined after moving them, helps to 'home' them I would imagine.

 

[aart]

They didn't want to leave the coop until Saturday, which was day 11

They went back to their old nightly roosting spot

Wow, even after 11 days!!
How long until they went back to the new coop at dusk?

 

[PattyNH]

They went in and out for a few hours while I kept an eye on them. I like that they'd run back in when something (like the wind, or a branch falling - it was very windy) scared them then they'd come right back out. I work 8-5 so weekdays they aren't out much unless my dad lets them out during the day. He's 81, which is part of why I live with him. It's too much to care for the house and property on his own. He's really been enjoying having livestock around again as we used to have cows, horses, pigs, chicken, turkeys, goats, etc when I was growing up. The barn has sat unused - except as a place to collect junk - for 20+ years. He's been helping me with cleaning and remodeling it and it's been great working together on a project as he says he feels useless sometimes and gets down on himself. My mom was diagnosed with ALS in Oct 2013 and passed May 12, 2014 at 75 yrs old. They were married in 1960 when they were 21y and 22y - she passed 10 days before their 54th wedding anniversary. I moved in with him shortly after that. I lost my husband of 18 yrs in July 2017 so it's been a blessing for me to be here with him as well. Plus I've always been a daddy's girl, much to the chagrin of my 3 older sisters lol. He's had some health issues this past year resulting in a lot if restriction on his mobility. Anyhow, it is wonderful to see him finding enjoyment in the animals, and my 6y old keeps him on his toes