The Poultry Keeper

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

I recently moved my older chicks 5 weeks (off heat) to a new hutch and 2x3 metre pen. They absoloutley love it accept they wont go back in the hutch. Instead they make lots of noise and huddle in a group in the corner of the run. Any ideas how i could get them to go to bed themselves?

Thanks, JC

CP · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:16 am Post subject:

Food is always a good bribe. Scatter a little corn at the entrance of the coop, then as they eat it, slowly encourage them to go in the pop hole. Wink

I have heard placing a lit torch inside helps, but only if it's darker outside & at this time of year that's quite late. Wink

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

I had this with a mixed group of cream Legbars, banty Wyandottes & a banty welbar - they all slept in a huddle in the run. I left them to it because the run was underwired. They now have access to the main run, and the cream legbars go in to their house, attached to the small run, and the bantams go in to one of the bigger bantam houses to perch for the night. Not having a bird brain, I fail to follow their thought processes

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1103 Location: Sussex

Did they learn to go to bed rather than sleep on the floor?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

The bantams certainly perch - I've not opened up the house section to check whether the Cream legbars are perching. I'll try to remember to do so this evening.

NannyP · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

I moved my 8 week olds a couple of weeks ago, into a secure enclosure, with a covered area, but lots of open to the elements bits. They will not go under cover, and insist on huddling by the door. This means they get wet when it rains Laughing

and the shavings beneath them (which I have shovelled up again tonight) smell like a cattle yard Rolling Eyes

I have given up worrying.....it's their choice.

anni · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 25 Location: UK

I had this problem last year - we hatched out 8 sussex chicks, who refused to go to bed at all most days - either roosting in the trees (ha! that was fun trying to get them down) or sleeping on the floor of the hutch. They got on ok though - seem to have grown out of it, when the winter set in - not surprising really. I think as long as you are fox-proof its ok, they'll go in if they're really cold.

Laughing

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Just put my 11 week olds in with the big girls - put them in the big house at night. They spent yesterday getting to know their "aunties" in the big run (100'x60') and last night 2 of them went to bed but the other 8 decided to huddle under the old small house - OH managed to get them out and put them to bed - keeping fingers crossed they will go to bed tonight or else I think OH will throw a wobbly Laughing

. I need to know they know where to go before I can let them free range in the paddock.