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Chickens are creatures of habit. Once they learn to return to their coop, they will consistently do so. If they are accustomed to going back to their home, they will continue this behavior.
If you’ve had chickens for years, you might consider upgrading their coop or moving it to a larger, better one.
You might be wondering what steps to take when your chickens arrive at their new coop and how to help them settle in smoothly. Here’s everything you need to know about introducing your chickens to a new home!
How to Transition Chickens to Their Coop for the First Time
When you introduce your chickens to their new coop for the first time, ensure it is equipped with everything they need, such as a water dish, a food dish they can’t stand on, roosting bars, and nesting boxes. You’ll notice that they tend to stay close to their food and water resources initially.
Make sure your chickens are comfortable and warm and that they can easily find their food and water dishes.
It may take several days for your chickens to adjust to their new surroundings. However, chickens are adaptable and will likely become comfortable in their new coop quickly.
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How to Make Chickens Sleep in a New Coop
When you put your chickens in their new coop for the first time, you will want to make as safe and comfortable for them. Since your chickens will be roosting here, provide everything they need, including food, water, and nesting boxes with grass to create a cozy environment.
To encourage them to use the coop, lock them inside for at least three days. Ensure the temperature inside remains comfortable, not too hot or too cold.
Your chickens will soon adapt to their new surroundings and start sleeping in the coop, which is the most effective method for helping them settle in.
Many chicken owners also recommend using treats or food to lure their flock into the coop at night. You can feed them inside the coop during the early evenings.
After a while, they will associate the coop with food and will enter and sleep there out of habit. Once this routine is established, you can stop feeding them at that time, and they will continue to go into the coop on their own.
How Long Do Chickens Need to Acclimate to 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 is 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 stressed after the move.
Eventually, your chickens will start their venture in the new coop, which indicates that they are ready to begin.
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 stay where they feel most comfortable.
After you see your chickens are more comfortable in their coop, you can open the coop’s door and let them roam free in their pen. However, it would be best to not force your chickens out of their new coop.
As their keeper, you need only open their door and wait. You can encourage the chickens to leave their coop by spreading some feed and freshwater in their pen. The flock’s strongest and most curious chickens will first leave the coop and explore.
Within a few minutes, the rest of your chickens will come out and join them cautiously. If no chickens come out of the coop within the first few hours, gently push them into the pen.
However, be careful not to scare them; 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 to 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 them and its safety.
So, even while your chickens are alone to enjoy their new pen or space, you may want to return frequently and watch them closely.
This will ensure their safety and allow you to make any necessary adjustments to their new home if you see anything unfit.
Other Ideas You Might Like
- 14 Best Chicken Breeds That Consistently Lay Great Eggs
- How to Raise Meat Chickens
- How to Choose a Heritage Chicken Breed for the Homestead
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