Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??

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wolverine

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Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« on: September 21, 2010, 10:02 »
I feel awfull they look really angry that the old coop is gone and they totally refuse the new coop I tried picking one up and putting her in the nest box and she ran off they have normally layed by now wondering if I've messes up here : (
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it."

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Kathie

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2010, 10:08 »
Hi there Wolverine,
We gave our coop a 60 minute makeover yesterday (took 6 hours though!), and we made some changes to size and floor and boy did they sulk.  I think  we were fortunate that we didn't finish until late in the afternoon, so by bed time they had no choice. It did take a lot longer for them to go to bed and they started to squabble about who slept where.  I think it may be a matter of time and they will settle again.  I hope so!!
3 dogs now, 2 passed RIP Poppy and Paige, one wonderful husband and a new adventure on this wonderful island

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joyfull

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2010, 11:01 »
it does take them a few days to settle as they hate change, mine have gone through several coops as my flock kept increasing but they eventually settle  :)
Staffies are softer than you think.

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orchardlady

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2010, 20:58 »
This summer I changed my flock fom 5 small houses into my hoped and dreamed for new hen house. I was delighted...the hens were not. This is what I did.

1. Had the new house errected...much noseyness from the hens.

2. Let them go to bed in their original 5 small houses.

3. My son and I caught all the birds one at a time and put them in the new house. Shut the     door.

4. Next day let them lay in new and original houses.

5. Next night kept the original houses pop holes closed.

6. Most went to bed in the new house with a bit of shilly shalliying. The rest spent a great deal of time going around and around the origanal 5 houses trying to get to bed. A certain amont of hearding (Q: Can you heard chickens?? A: NO YOU CANNOT) ensued. After we gave up with the last few die hards we left them out and they roosed on top of the origanal houses. Went back after dark and nabbed them and put them in the new house.

7. Repeat for several days.

Have fun! :lol:

PS. Oh the shouting from one of my cockerels :ohmy:. As it was deep dusk I had two neighbours looking over their fences into the field to find out who was being murdered. So embarrassing having to explain that no I was not killing the cockerel only trying to put him calmly and kindly into his new palatial home!

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daisy1990

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2010, 21:09 »
I always find that if you throw mealworms in they will go anywhere!
3 dogs, 8 chickens, 4 rabbits 2 guinea pigs, 10 quail, 2 fish and a demanding daughter who has gone to uni and left me with 29 animals to care for!!=)

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Ice

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2010, 21:13 »
I always find that if you throw mealworms in they will go anywhere!
I was going to say that mine will go anywhere for tinned sweetcorn. :D
Cheese makes everything better.

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joyfull

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2010, 21:18 »
you could also try putting a torch in the coop so they can see inside, once they are in just switch the torch off  :)

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jinty1911

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2010, 21:21 »
I always find that if you throw mealworms in they will go anywhere!

Only had my girls for 9 days and they are eating off my hand but only for dried meal worms. Gonna get some live ones and see  if they will roll over for them  :D

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josh5357

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2010, 20:45 »
what's the latest on the new coop. have the chooks accepted defeat

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wolverine

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2010, 21:29 »
I think I've just about done it just the one girl at the VERY BOTTOM or tbc pecking order will only sleep in the nest box !!! Ive let her get away with it so far just glad she is going in on her own I'm blocking it off at the weekend though She will learn  :D

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CattinJ

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2010, 10:38 »
Hi Wolverine - Im guessing this is the new eglu then??
Mine sleep in the nest box and I dont mind that as they are snug and warm...
I found they struggled with the eglu ladder (mine are ex bats and still not great at perching/balancing despite having them for a year), so once we'd put our old ramp up rather than the plastic ladder they were hapy as larry - they still struggle walking across the plastic perching bars to the nest box tho!

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jamima

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Re: Any tips on getting them to go into the new coop??
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2010, 10:41 »
i put up a new shed on sat for my hens and had to go round every night putting them in manually its at the opposite side of the garden so i think it confused them but on wed night they all went in on their own clever girls :)



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