Diaper Swappers

sarahannecloud9 · 05-06-2012, 06:57 PM

I put them out at 2, it's 8 now and the sun is about gone. I put them in the coop about 30 min ago, went back out to check and they are out again playing. They were out in a pen when I bought them. I had them in a bin with no light for a cpl days while we finished the coop. They are a bit older then 2 months. I'm thinking more like 2.5 months?

Are they just still excited? Ahhh. Now I will go out again in 30 min to put them up again. I think they just like playing on the ramp, hehe.

Any ideas if they will stay till the am?

TIA!!!!!

somo_chickenlady · 05-06-2012, 07:20 PM

If they are new to the coop, you will have to put them in and shut the door. You'll have to do that for a while until they get used to it and realize that is where they live now. I can't tell you how long that will take, b/c all chickens are different. I had one batch that took over a month to figure it out, another one that figured it out in 3 days. One day you will go out to put them in the coop and they will already be in it. You have to lock them in at night to get them to understand, though. They won't stay in on their own, most likely.

jaks · 05-06-2012, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somo_chickenlady

If they are new to the coop, you will have to put them in and shut the door.

Yup just shut the door and open it again in the morning. Mine have always figured it out pretty quickly. I just leave the door open constantly now (although my run is completely enclosed).

sarahannecloud9 · 05-06-2012, 08:41 PM

Here is the opening, I can't close it off.

The floor is open in the roosts areas and then the walk up area. The flooring and nesting area is in the back. Sorry for not haveing a better pic.

The bottom is all enclosed. This is the pic before the ramp and run were added. It's safe and enclosed. I just want them to learn to stay.

We just checked on them and had to put them back up there. We hung out for a while to make sure they stayed and they actually did. I'll be headed back out again. I think we can find a piece of plywood to cover the entry to the ramp. I really dought they will jump through the walk up or under the roosts.

Will see how it goes. I'm gonna worry all dang night, sheesh!

Thanks for the help you guys! I had no clue or I would have been more prepared for this.

jaks · 05-06-2012, 09:13 PM

Oh shoot. If you have a completely enclosed run I wouldn't worry about it! Mine is similar. They have stayed out all night multiple times (every once in a while we close the door to the coop during the day to clean it and forget to reopen it) and they have been just fine. Chickens are tough.

Also, they're curious and once they have explored the coop they'll eventually figure it out. They like going into the enclosed space at night and they like sitting on the roosts. I honestly don't know if I ever have taught mine to go in by closing them in. They just did it on their own. It just takes one of them going in and the rest will follow it seems.

Really don't worry! As long as they are enclosed and no critters can get at them they should be okay.

vjbakke · 05-06-2012, 09:39 PM

So there is no door to close them in at all at night? You may want to rig something up. They are most unsafe when they are sleeping at night. Also with out having a closed in run there is more of a chance for predators to get in and get them. Maybe just use a scrap piece of wood as a temp door?

3lilbubs · 05-06-2012, 11:51 PM

Sarah do you have power out there? The minute mine see the heat lamp come on they go in and stay. Using it for a week or so till they figure out that that the coop is the safe, warm place might help transition them a little easier. I don't have a door on my coop either, but we don't have raccoons here. If I did, I would want a door. Mine don't go in till dusk.

sarahannecloud9 · 05-07-2012, 04:41 AM

They stayed! I had to wake them up, haha

I',m so relieved. The bottom of the coop is 100% fenced with burried boards and even fencing so nothing can dig, as is their run. I need to upload those pics. I couldn't even break in without the doors.

They did finally stay in though. Yay!!! They were actually being lazy when I got out there. Still sleeping! The sun rises early here, sets early too. It's day break at about 5:15. I just came in.

Thanks for all the help momas!!!! I was really worried.

05-06-2012, 06:57 PM	#1
sarahannecloud9 Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Crossville, Tn (Pleasant Hill) Posts: 10,680 Ratings: 382 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Will these chicks ever go to bed.... I put them out at 2, it's 8 now and the sun is about gone. I put them in the coop about 30 min ago, went back out to check and they are out again playing. They were out in a pen when I bought them. I had them in a bin with no light for a cpl days while we finished the coop. They are a bit older then 2 months. I'm thinking more like 2.5 months? Are they just still excited? Ahhh. Now I will go out again in 30 min to put them up again. I think they just like playing on the ramp, hehe. Any ideas if they will stay till the am? TIA!!!!! __________________ MAKE REASONABLE OFFERS ON MY FS ITEMS! Sarah, OCD about, Chickens, Gardening, and Farming! Wife 2 my savior since 97 Jimmy Ray, momma 2 my blessingsCayden 3/29/05 ANDWilliam 1/23/09Desperate for just 1 more. Missing my beloved moma, Karen- passed 4/14/09.

05-06-2012, 07:20 PM	#2
somo_chickenlady Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 1,976 My Mood:	Re: Will these chicks ever go to bed.... If they are new to the coop, you will have to put them in and shut the door. You'll have to do that for a while until they get used to it and realize that is where they live now. I can't tell you how long that will take, b/c all chickens are different. I had one batch that took over a month to figure it out, another one that figured it out in 3 days. One day you will go out to put them in the coop and they will already be in it. You have to lock them in at night to get them to understand, though. They won't stay in on their own, most likely. __________________ KARA Mom to Greyson, 14 After 12 years of TTC #2, multiple miscarriages, failed infertility treatments, and two failed (not on our end) attempts at becoming foster/adopt parents in two states...we gave up. I stick around for the awesome conversation.

05-06-2012, 08:41 PM	#4
sarahannecloud9 Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Crossville, Tn (Pleasant Hill) Posts: 10,680 Ratings: 382 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Will these chicks ever go to bed.... Here is the opening, I can't close it off. The floor is open in the roosts areas and then the walk up area. The flooring and nesting area is in the back. Sorry for not haveing a better pic. The bottom is all enclosed. This is the pic before the ramp and run were added. It's safe and enclosed. I just want them to learn to stay. We just checked on them and had to put them back up there. We hung out for a while to make sure they stayed and they actually did. I'll be headed back out again. I think we can find a piece of plywood to cover the entry to the ramp. I really dought they will jump through the walk up or under the roosts. Will see how it goes. I'm gonna worry all dang night, sheesh! Thanks for the help you guys! I had no clue or I would have been more prepared for this. __________________ MAKE REASONABLE OFFERS ON MY FS ITEMS! Sarah, OCD about, Chickens, Gardening, and Farming! Wife 2 my savior since 97 Jimmy Ray, momma 2 my blessingsCayden 3/29/05 ANDWilliam 1/23/09Desperate for just 1 more. Missing my beloved moma, Karen- passed 4/14/09.

05-06-2012, 09:13 PM	#5
jaks Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 131 Ratings: 17 Feedback: 100%	Re: Will these chicks ever go to bed.... Oh shoot. If you have a completely enclosed run I wouldn't worry about it! Mine is similar. They have stayed out all night multiple times (every once in a while we close the door to the coop during the day to clean it and forget to reopen it) and they have been just fine. Chickens are tough. Also, they're curious and once they have explored the coop they'll eventually figure it out. They like going into the enclosed space at night and they like sitting on the roosts. I honestly don't know if I ever have taught mine to go in by closing them in. They just did it on their own. It just takes one of them going in and the rest will follow it seems. Really don't worry! As long as they are enclosed and no critters can get at them they should be okay.

05-06-2012, 09:39 PM	#6
vjbakke Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,439 Ratings: 64 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Will these chicks ever go to bed.... So there is no door to close them in at all at night? You may want to rig something up. They are most unsafe when they are sleeping at night. Also with out having a closed in run there is more of a chance for predators to get in and get them. Maybe just use a scrap piece of wood as a temp door?