Cube Mark One Run

[Stella14]

I will be getting my first hens soon and I read a piece of advice that I haven't come across elsewhere. I was wondering what you all thought. This guy said to shut the hens into the coop with food and water for 24 hrs to establish it at there nesting place, then let them out into the run after that. Given that their home will be a coop and a 4' x 7' run (with some free ranging around the garden under supervision), do you think it's really necessary to lock them into the coop for 24 hours, won't they go in it anyway? I do plan to not let them out of the run for a few until they are settled. I look forward to reading what you all think.

[green]

I didn't let mine out of the run for the first week, but wouldn't be happy locking them in the coop for a whole day. They seemed to know where their sleeping quarters were anyway, as soon as it got dark they went in the coop. I gave them their treats in the same bowl every afternoon and now they will follow the bowl anywhere... A good tip if you're anxious about getting them back in the run after free ranging in the garden.

[chicken bark]

What I'd do is put them directly in the coop with the pop hole door shut. When they are all in open the pop hole to the run. I'd have the food and water in the run. That way they have to come out of the coop but should know what it is like when they go back in it at bedtime.

 

Sometimes you need to physically 'persuade' them back into the coop at bedtime but they soon get the hang of it and some do it straight away.

 

Leave them in the run for about a week and when they and you feel confident let them out for an hour before bedtime and slowly increase this FR time.

 

If you give them corn do it in a bowl/pot they recognise the sound of so when you come to shake it when they are FRing they should run straight back to you and into their run - useful if you have them out during the day and you suddenly need to pop out.

 

Have fun.

[Chucky1]

I'm with Chicken Bark and Green - I'd keep them in the run for the first 5-7 days but I don't like the idea of keeping them in the coop (plus its messy enough without adding food and water) - of course they may well stay in the coop themselves (we had one lot that didn't venture out for nearly 8 hours) but I think thats different

[coco]

I put my latest new girls in the coop for a couple of hours just so they could settle down but let them into the run after that. I've always put food and water just in the run. I've just started FR them with the other girls after two weeks in the run.

[Chortle Chook]

I think we must have read the same book.

I put mine in the coop with the door shut for all of about 15 mins when one of them began angrilly pecking at the door. I then let them all out into their run and had a lovely mess of water and food to sort out that they had trundled back and forth through.

Next time round I introduced them one at a time from their card board box into the coop and then when they were all in I opened their door into the run where I had their water and basic food. I also put a few meal worms scattered around the run and on the ramp. That seemed to work.

[Stella14]

That all make more sense to me. Thanks

[Nobby65]

Ive only had chickens for a week and never gave a thought to my 6 ladies knowing where bed was. I was watching them mill about as the light faded then they just trooped in to the coop one after the other with no help from me. One of the cochins i have likes to sit by the entrance to the coop so if shes first in the others have to squeeze by her.

[Chortle Chook]

That 'sitting by the entrance' act is a naughty thing to do isn't it? I have wondered if this is a dominance thing where a lead hen ensures that the others have to ask her permission to go to bed.