Dang new chickens

[FarmboyBill]

They wont go into the chicken house at night. I don't know if the older hens are pulling senority or what. Its sure a pain to shoo in 35 or them every night, so far.

[bja105]

Once you get them in, don't let them out for a few days. They'll figure it out.

[Chucknbob]

Agreed. Lock them up for 3 days or so. The old girls may beat them up a bit, but they'll Learn it's home.

[CountryMom22]

How long have the chickens all been together? When I mix mine, it only takes a week, usually less, for them the start putting themselves away. The new girls will be the last ones in for the next few months, but at least they are going in by themselves.

[BlackFeather]

We just got 2 chickens to add to the ones we already had, had to catch them at night to put them in. Then it got cold and we kept them locked up for about 4 days till it warmed up, then they knew where home was and they went in by themselves.

[RichNC]

How are chickens, who correct me if I am wrong Bill, have lived their whole lives in cages laying eggs suppose to just know how to get up and trot into a chicken house at night??

[FarmboyBill]

Rich, I got 16 hens I had before I bought the rest. I THOUGHT that the old hens would show the new ones the ropes, as to how to get in and out. They get out fine, but sure are reluctant to go in at night.

[wr]

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

They wont go into the chicken house at night. I don't know if the older hens are pulling senority or what. Its sure a pain to shoo in 35 or them every night, so far.

I'm quite surprised that with your extensive farm upbringing, nobody ever taught you to keep birds and livestock penned or cooped for 3 days before letting them out.

My parents did it and so did their grandparents and I know it's still common practice.

A young guy in my area bought a few cows and he hadn't heard about penning them up for a few days either and it took about a week to get them all gathered up.

[FarmboyBill]

wr, Ive ALWAYS kept them penned for a week. BUT I NEVER kept a few chickens and then put more with them before. I usually cleaned out, and sold, and was cleaned out by varments, and replaced with a new bunch, all by themselves. Having never done that before, I thought that the old ones would, if nothing else, by accident show the new ones, OR at least most of them the way inside. I had 16 old ones, and 35 new ones, so it was almost one old hen for every 2 new.

The GOOD news was that only around 8 was outside tonight, so I guess there learning. They like to go out the little door, but don't like going back in it at night, so I leave the regular door open at chore time.

[Maura]

You have to realize that the entire idea is new to them. Animals kept in confinement, like battery chickens or puppy mill breeders, loose IQ points due to lack of stimulation. Expect these chickens to take longer to learn anything. On a positive note, I’m sure they are very happy at your place.

[FarmboyBill]

Appairantly so happy they hate to see the day end lol

[Cygnet]

We have to put our flock up before dusk -- before they'd naturally go into the coop -- due to predators. This is when a good herding dog comes in handy ... she rounds them up and drives them into the barn (the coop is in the back of a small barn) while I'm collecting the eggs and feeding the goats. :-) I think it's the highlight of the dog's day when I say, "Get the chickens!"

[FarmboyBill]

Only ONE 1 was out tonight. She was at the small door and went right in when I got near her. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

[nobrabbit]

We buy our chickens from a nearby university research program so they only know cage living. Even though we keep them closed up in their chicken wagon for several days, usually it's a couple of weeks of us catching them (with a dip net no less) before they catch on. These chickens didn't even go to roost for quite a while. All in all it took them about six weeks before they starting acting like normal chickens

[brownegg]

3 days keeping them locked up might work....however a week being locked up in the coop shows them where home is and always works....catching with a net is stressful for the birds and not the best idea for a happy flock.

[FarmboyBill]

Well at 67 having to chase them is stressful for me and not the best idea for a happy OLD farmer lol I had to use a net the first one or 2 days to catch a few.

[nobrabbit]

Better to be caught by a net than eaten by a coon or possum .

[FarmboyBill]

you right bout that. Getting c aught by such likely causes a VERY stressful for a very short time, and make for a VERY unhappy chicken.

They go in after I get around them. I go around the back N side and copme around to the front S side. They glut near the little door, but don't go in there. I shoo them past that and to the big door on the W side. Then tend to go right in for the most part. Then I shoo them past the laying room and into the roosting room. I cn tell that they know they have to go into the roosting room, and have no trouble getting them in there. I then shut the door, and open it early in the morning.

[FarmboyBill]

Screwed up last night. All but one went in. All but another went into the roosting bay. I forgot to shut the little door on the S side of the house. Aropund 2 00 I heard a chicken squawk. I thought that one had fallen asleep off her pearch. Then in a minute I heard another squawk of distress. I jumped up put on shoes without lacing them, jeans, and had a long john shirt already on, my cap and got my 22. Several had ran out the little door. I searched the inside 2 bays, the laying and the roosting. Didn't find anything. Thought that the possum or whatever had went outside to catch one of them, saw my light and made off. I caught around 4 or 5 of them and put them back and shut the door. walked all around the house looking for anymore chickens or the animal, but found nothing. Got to the house, took a goodnight whizz, and thought that I should check the third bay. I went back and searched, and found it in the back corner. Gave it a dose of dangerous and deadly devastation, and went to bed. This morning I found 2 that were still out all night. Guess ill have to start near all over again.

[brownegg]

I wonder why I waste my time saying to lock them up for a week first? They will then all go back in by dark....simply go out at dark and lock them up to keep the predators away and at bay. easy as can be, and never any drama...