New Coop - How to get chooks to use it?

[Peas'n'Kews]

I have inherited 7 hens and one cockerel (apologies if you have seen this in my other posts!).

The hen house they had was originally a good 'un but the folk we bought from did nothing for 6 years of occupancy and the house is litterally falling down and not even slightly fox proof.

We bought a lovely new hen house and set it up in the chicken enclosure. Filled the nesting boxes with straw, put food in it.....

So far the chickens have gone in for a look and a feed and one has laid two eggs (I was sooooo excited!), but they want to go back to their old coop (which I have shut up) for the night.

Left them so late last night that they had no choice but to use the new house, and we shut them up believing all were in there. However, this morning one had roosted on top of the old coop's nesting box!

Also, they aren't using the roosting area, but huddling on the floor (and one slept and messed in a nesting box).

Any ideas how I can get them to use the new coop? The old one will be demolished next week.

The new coop went up Tuesday this week.

Feeling a bit helpless as a complete chicken newby!

[bearded bloke]

I suspect that when there is only a choice of one,they will soon become accustomed to using that

[kathyd]

I'm guessing that once the old coop disappears they won't have any choice, and they'll move into the new one without any problems! I forgot one night that I'd shut the pop-hole to keep a broody out, and when I went down to lock up at bedtime, I found they'd all found alternative places to roost - some under the coop, some on top. I got quite a telling off when I disturbed them (apologising profusely to them, like you do) to put them inside. So they do look after themselves, don't worry.

Mine also sleep on the floor of their coop at times, and some in the integral nesting boxes. In fact, I've given up on the nest boxes for now, removed the partition and just made them part of the sleeping area... It's given moulting birds a bit more chance to separate from the others, since a couple have developed a habit of pecking at loose feathers despite anti-pecking sprays and gentian violet! I have separate nest boxes outside the little wooden coop instead. Oh, and 5 of my 9 are currently sleeping on the coop roof (coop's in a secured outhouse though, not outside).

I've decided that sometimes it's better just to stop worrying and let them get on with things, provided they're safe / healthy / happy of course. I've worried about my birds more than I ever did about my kids, but it all sorts itself out eventually, with a little help from this forum of course .

[RichmondHens]

Get rid of the old house as soon as you can then they will have no choice but to use the new one. They will learn, but old habits die hard, particularly with older hens so you may find there are several nights where everyone is not where they should be until they get used to the changes. Be strict from the outset, block off nestboxes at night so they don't sleep in them, it is a bad habit and unless you spend time each morning mucking them out your eggs will get soiled.

Also there is no need to put food inside the hen house, they won't eat it in there. More likely blunder about in the half dark, knock it over and it will attract vermin. Keep the feeder outside and remove it each night to a vermin proof place.

Good luck, enjoy chicken keeping. It's really very simple - Feed good quality feed, give fresh water, plenty of space (free range if possible) control the parasites, then sit back and enjoy them, or rather sweat over your veg bed while the hens get in the way of the fork having a whale of a time ........

[kathyd]

Lol RH - our hens tend to sit ON the fork and refuse to move even if you shake it about a bit! You wouldn't be without them really, would you

[Peas'n'Kews]

Thank you all!

Its a relief to know that they are all behaving normally. They are all pretty scruffy and old but quite endearing and lay us eggs! (2 warm ones so far today)

They now all go into the house at the end of the day, and two are roosting. May try the blocking off the nesting box idea, thanks RichmondHens.

Also a good tip about the food, as they are free range (and already think they own every inch of the 2 acres! They weren't let out of their orchard enclosure before). We are already plotting ways to keep them from the veg beds - when I finally get them dug! But I like them "tilthing" the soil for me - saves a job and gets the bugs eaten. Multi-tasking chickens

Much relieved, thank you all very much.

[Glutton4...]

Watch them, though, they'll eat all the worms, too!

[BarleySugar]

My son calls mine the destruction crew