If you have had chickens for years, you may be thinking of ways to either upgrade their coop or move them to a bigger, better one. You want to keep your flock safe and sound from predators and the harsh weather changes.
This is the purpose of your coop, and you need to do everything you can to keep them comfortable. How do you introduce your chickens to a new coop?
Chickens are creatures of habit. Once they have learned to return to their coop, they will always do it. If you have them in the practice of returning to their home, then they will not break it. Always keep them as comfortable as possible, especially when introducing them to their new coop.
You might be wondering what you need to do when your chickens first arrive at their new coop and what you can do to get them off to the best start. Continue reading as we take you through everything you need to know when it comes to introducing your chickens to a new home!
Putting Chickens In Coop For First Time
When you put your chickens in their new coop for the first time, you will notice that they will always stay in close range of their food and water resources.
Make sure you have everything your chickens will need in their new coops, such as a water dish, a food dish they won’t be able to stand on, and roosting bars and nesting boxes.
Make sure your chickens are comfortable and warm and easily able to find their food and water dish.
It may take several days for your chickens to adjust and get comfortable with their new surroundings. However, chickens are not picky animals, and they will likely become comfortable in their new coop in no time!
How Do I Get My Chickens To Sleep In A New Coop?
When you put your chickens in their new coop for the first time, you will want to make it the most beautiful coop in the world. You can place some nesting boxes with grass and everything they could ever dream of right at their fingertips.
However, this will not convince your new flock that this is their new home. You need to do your best to make it not only comfortable but also safe. As your chickens will be roosting here, you need to provide them with everything they need.
You can then encourage them to use it by locking them in there for at least three days. However, make sure the temperature in there stays comfortable and not too hot or too cold.
Your chickens will soon get used to their new coop and get used to sleeping in it as well. This is your number one option!
Several chicken owners recommend treats or food to encourage their new flock into their cop at night.
You can use the feed in their coop during the early evenings, and they will get used to this after a while, go into their coop, and sleep there. Then, you should be able to stop feeding them during this time, and they will be in the habit.
How Long To Leave Chickens In A New Coop
The number one thing you have to think of when introducing your chickens to a new coop is how long to leave them there so they can get familiar with it.
The best thing to do would be to keep your chickens in their new coup for about three days, up to three weeks. Three weeks may sound like a long time, but it might be necessary, especially if you can easily notice that they are under a lot of stress after the move.
Eventually, your chickens will start their venture in the new coop, which would indicate that they are ready to begin their venture. Chickens are very different from other pet-like animals.
They will always remember the exact location of their food and water resources. Unlike dogs and cats, chickens will not explore down the street, and they will stay where they feel most comfortable.
After you can see your chickens are more comfortable in their coop, you can start to open the coop’s door and let them roam free in their pen. However, it is essential that you do not force your chickens out of their new coop at this point.
All you need to do as their keeper is open their door and wait. You can encourage the chickens to leave their coop by spreading some feed in their pen, along with some freshwater. The strongest and most curious chickens of the flock will leave the coop first and explore.
Within a few minutes, the rest of y0ur chickens will come out and join them cautiously. If no chickens have come out of the coop within the first few hours, you can gently push them into the pen.
However, be careful not to scare them, as they may run back into the coop. After all your chickens have come out, you can let them explore for the rest of the day so that they will become more comfortable out in their open pen.
If you have built your own coop or yard for your chickens, now would be a suitable time to test its ability to contain your chickens and how safe it is.
So, even while your chickens are alone to enjoy their new pen or space, you may want to return frequently and keep a close eye on them.
This will ensure their safety and allow you to make any necessary adjustments to their new home if you see anything that might be unfit.
Conclusion
Bringing some new chickens home for the first time is almost as exciting as giving your existing flock a new home. Chickens are beautiful animals, and as soon as they are comfortable in their new coop, you will have the opportunity to see them enjoy and peck at their surroundings!
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