At one time or another, most chicken-keepers have experienced the inconvenience of having to chase, coax, cajole or otherwise
escort a new flock member into the coop at dusk, which is no fun for us, or them. Chickens do not manage stress well and moving from one housing arrangement to another is extremely stressful for chickens, whether from a brooder to a coop or from one backyard to another. How they manage that stress will vary from chicken to chicken, but it often results in confusion about where ‘home’ is and where they should sleep at night.
There is a way to teach chickens to roost inside the coop- I refer to it as Coop Training. Coop Training can be done chickens of any age but the younger, the better. It is far easier to teach good habits from the beginning than it is to try to break bad habits later. For this reason, I always Coop Train young and new flock members.
Confine chickens to the coop with no access to the run for at least a week. This reinforces the concept of ‘home’ and they have no choice but to roost inside the coop.
Week two, open the pop door and allow them to venture out into the run if they wish, but do not interfere if they would rather not. In
the unlikely event they do not return to the coop at dusk that first night, they need more time confined to the coop. In another week, try again. (I have never had to resort to adding on a second week.)
If allowing the flock to free-range, week three is the time to open the door to the run and let them explore the great outdoors. They will
likely remain in close proximity to the coop and run and will return to roost at night.
I discovered the concept of Coop Training quite by accident.The first dozen chickens to occupy my first coop never required chasing or
encouragement to roost inside the coop at night, but when I added my first of many subsequent flock members to the coop, I found myself coaxing chickens off the roof of the run or from underneath the coop at bedtime.
In contemplating the differences between the two groups of chickens, I realized that that my first dozen chicks were not allowed into the run for several weeks after they took up residence in the big coop. The second group of chickens were stressed and disoriented by their new environment as they were given no time to adjust to their new accommodations. Lesson learned, problem solved within a week.
Coop Re-Training
There are times when chickens that have been residing in the coop for some time suddenly fail to return to the coop at dusk, which can be due to a predator scare or some other stressor, once the issue has been identified and resolved, coop re-training can begin. The solution to their apprehension is simply to re-train them for a week as outlined above. Again, the temperature inside the coop must not exceed 70°F and the underlying stressor must be resolved first.
Nest Box Training
A related training opportunity is available while Coop Training new chicks in an empty coop is Nest Box Training. Whenever I put new chicks (not laying hens) in an empty coop, I always close off access to the nest boxes to prevent them from sleeping in them. Sometimes in the confusion of the move, they will hide in the nest boxes and develop the unwanted habit of sleeping and pooping
in them. That is a habit best discouraged from the beginning as it is quite difficult to break and unsanitary conditions create dirty eggs later on. When the chickens approach approximately 17 weeks of age, the nest boxes can be opened for business.
Coop training also addresses the problem of hidden egg nests. Some free-ranging chickens will lay their eggs in hidden locations throughout the property, which is undesirable. Coop training gives them no choice but to lay their eggs in nest boxes and after a week or two of confinement to the coop and run, they will develop the habit of laying eggs where it is convenient for us, not them.
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Thank you so much for the vote of confidence and good luck in the giveaway!
My pleasure, Wendy. Thank you!
Aw, thanks Robin (blush). It is a rewarding feeling to see them happily nestled on their roosts.
You bet Katie!
Thank you Brenda.
Cheep Cheep is going to need something MUCH bigger than this coin purse, she's a celebrity, after all!
Welcome to the wild world of backyard chicken keeping, Janet! I'm so happy to know it helps. :)
Thank you Michelle!
I always check with the Chicken Chick for what I need to know about my hens. And I love the GRIT posts. . . hoping to win a Chicken Coin Purse!
Really helpful, thanks so much!
you have the best blog EVER!! Free ranging my birds showed me just how happy they are in the coop we built for them! I love going out later in the evening to find them all *home* for the night
Thanks for the info :)) never thought of closing off the lay boxes!!
Love the info. What a great site.I have never had to train my hens though, they seem to take right to a nesting box.
I would love to win the purse so Cheep Cheep can put her egg money in! Great article!
I'm new to the backyard chicken world...and this helps TONS! Thanks!
Great info...Thanks!!
Thanks Martha, you got it! ;)
Thanks Jessica, I appreciate that!
Sandy, I actually sell the Chicken Coin Purse and a matching purse, the Henbag, in my webstore: http://www.CustomEggCartonLabels.com You'll find them under 'Chicken Merchandise' in the products directory!
Eggsactly, Esther. This WILL solve that problem, I assure you. Wait until the weather is much more temperate and then give it a whirl.
Thanks Andrea. :)
Thank you Ryanne! I invite you to follow my blog at http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com so that you will receive the newest blog posts the moment they are published!
Thanks so much, Lisa, that's really nice of you to say. Best of luck in the giveaway!
My pleasure, Molli. :)
Thank you Kristi!
I'm so happy to have you following my blog, Merele Ann! Happy Chickaversary!
It helps to have one of the chickens do the training for you, no question!
Thank you, Alison! You're 100% right!
Thank you Valerie!
My pleasure, Toshia, thank you!
Coreen, thank you! I love the positive thinking! Best of luck in the giveaway!
Mark, just close off the nest boxes after everyone has laid their eggs for the day and nobody will have the opportunity to sleep in them.
I didn't know it was a 'thing' either, Lara. My chickens taught me this lesson!
My pleasure Becky, let me know how it goes for you!
That's actually a fairly common occurence, Kelly. Sneaky broodies!
Cool, Donna. Does she share the eggs with you? :)
My pleasure Terri! It's so nice to have you join us on my page!
Congratulations on your new pets, Cari!! I think you will find that the coop and run will be works in progress for a long time to come (if you're anything like us, anyway!). Best of luck in the giveaway!
That's SO exciting, Holly! Be sure to share photos of it on my Facebook page when it arrives!
I'm sure they will Carol. :)
Thank you Tracey and good luck in the giveaway!
Chickens are actually much more intelligent than most believe, Dave. When are we going to get you a dozen or so to liven up your homestead? ;)
Worse things could happen to eggs than for them to turn into cutie pies, Kelsey. LOL!
Thank you Shelley!
Thank you Heather!
Me too, Gwen. A Facebook fan was kind enough to share it with me.
Darlene, I wish I had known about the Coop Training method before I got my second group too! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read my post!
Thank you Eileen and congratulations on your new, chicken-approved status!!
LOL, Lisa. Give my regards to Charlene!
If no other hens need to get to those nest boxes, you absolutely CAN close them off until they need them for their intended purpose!
Thanks!
Thank you Lisa!
Thank you Donna. Great profile picture, love the Henbag! LOL
Alex: try mealworms. :)
If you want the rogue egg-layers to put the eggs where you can reliably find them they will need to be retrained.
I wonder what would happen if you weren't there with the treats one night, do you know if they would go in on their own?
Mine are used to a treat before bed so when they see a small plate they run into the coop.
Great information, my older hens are really not liking to lay in the new coop. I have found the eggs in a brush pile. They REALLY don't care for the 2 roosters that 'developed' out of this springs chicks! But alas, I have put the total of 4 roosters in a seperate coop, that does seem to ease the old girls. Do I have to retrain the older hens, just 4 of them? All together with new chicks I have 26 hens..
My hens don't have a problem going in the coop, they just don't want to come to me when I call. I must not have good treats.
More great info Kathy!!!!&
this set up is adorable
love this
great article, i didnt know about the closing off of the nesting boxes until 17 weeks, but then when i read it, it made sence. I always hated the fact that they slept and pooed in the egg boxes. so my question now is, since i havent before (they are now 11 weeks) can i just start by closing off the boxes now, and then re-open for business when they are 17 weeks? thanks, Melissa~
good article and good timing for me, chicks I hatched here are fine, but had some new additions that were not getting with the program :) P.S. Charlene would love a baby coin purse!
I'm having a fun time visiting your site. I would love to win a chicken coin purse so I can save my pennies an dimes to raise a few hens in town. Green Bay will now allow us a few birds for eggs and I'm getting the itch to have fresh eggs.
Thanks for the informative article. Wish I had read it before I had to train my second set of birds to go in the coop. They definitely found it more challenging than the first group!
Great article. I will need this as I move my babies to the big pen.
I LOVE the Tree "Nesting Box"
what Rose replied I am taken by surprise that you can earn $7516 in 4 weeks on the internet. did you read this webpage MorePay3
I enjoyed reading the articles and looking at the pics...article was very informative. Thanks
Great article! Thank you for all the great tips. We had a hen that went off and laid a dozen eggs that we didn't know about. Needless to say we ended up with a dozen baby chicks!
Kathy, Ha, I didn't know that a chicken could be trained. It's amazing what can be learned from other homesteaders. Thanks for the clear and easy instructions to keep chickens safe and happy. Have a great chicken day.
Amy, Mmmm, yum. I do like raspberry jam. This recipe looks to be easy enough that even Nebraska Dave could make it. I plan on planting some berry bushes at my new garden property next year and raspberry will be one of them. Maybe in a couple years I too will be making raspberry jam. Thanks for the recipe. I'm sure you will be enjoying jam this winter. Have a great jamming day.
Haven't been a follower for long but I love it already!! The purses are ADORABLE!! I really enjoy all the pictures too.
Love the coin purses!! My girls are totally coop trained and come running when called. Hope they adjust to using the nesting boxes just as easily.
Great article. My new chicken coop should be arriving soon and this should help with the adjustment.
I have had my chickens foa 10 days. I love coming out in the morning with my coffe & visiting with them. Still working on their run, tweaking it is more like it. LOVE the coin purse! Would love to win it!!!
THANK YOU for all the great tips and I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE FROM YOU FACEBOOK PAGE ALSO : )
My friend has a chicken coop in her backyard in very populated Los Angeles. She would love this chicken coin purse.
We have done similar. We confine our new birds to the coop for 1 month and then let them free range. We haven't had a problem with them not returning to the coop before dark. Although we did have a situation with a broody hen that disappeared and discovered she had been collecting a clutch of eggs to hatch in our lawn mower shed. We allowed her to stay there and hatch her eggs, then we moved her and the chicks to a safer location.
As always your articles are very helpful! We had this happen to our chickens and I thought we had built a coop for nothing! Now I know how to fix it! Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge!
We do this, didn't know it was a "thing." Explains it well :)
I never thought about nest box training! I have two of my original three RIR's and introduced a barred rock and leghorn chicks. They had their own spot until i hatched out two more and they went in with the BIG girls. They both perch on top of the opening of the nest box. They all are in the same coop now and need to know how to keep them out of the boxes at night. Any thoughts? They all have access day and night
I always enjoy your photos & info. Looking forward to enjoying my new coin purse as well. ;-) Coreen Takasu in Japan
A must know for raising free ranging birds! Thanks so much for posting great information!
Very good article. Lots of options for everyone..And great pictures :) I just got a few new girls.. I was lucky, they go into the coop after a day, but I just found some eggs in the brush in their pen.One of the new girls are using the nesting box the other the brush nest.. . Now I have to hunt the brush for eggs every day.. like an Easter Egg hunt! The coin purses are just the cutiest thing!
Wonderful advice!! We often want to rush things, but it's better to do it right. Patience pays off!
Thank goodness I had a fearless leader (my white leghorn) when it was time to learn to go up into the coop at night. She usually has the right idea, and the other chickens seem to follow her lead. Not sure how nest box training will go, we'll see when we get to that point in another month or two:)
We are new to your blog, but appriciate all of this timely information. Our 1 year Anniversary as Chicken Keepers is coming up on August 8th. There has been much to learn but many experianced mentors out there to help us novices become successful. We have 15 girls who provide us with much entertainment and antics. The past few months with the over-the-top heat has presented us with many challenges, but the advise provided has been put to good use. Thank you! Merle Ann & Terry Fenske - Living the Simpler Life on the Fenske Homestead - Independence CA in the Eastern Sierras
Coin purse is adorable. I enjoyed your article, I find coop training to be beneficial in avoiding some of the predators and it's nice to see the girls follow directions.
Thank you for this article! I have had to retrain some "newbies"
I loved this article. I grew up on a farm and was too little when my Dad had chickens, so I don't know a lot about chickens, my boyfriend worked on a chicken farm and enjoyed your blog as well. I just love the chick coin purses and hope I can win one of them. I'm a farm girl at heart and think the coin purses are just too cute!!!
Adding this blog to my favorites! It'll definitely come in handy! That and your chicken names... Petunia...I love it! :)
I always enjoy looking at the pictures and reading the posts. There is always something new to learn that I didn't know.
Great article as usual! I'm having trouble with my girls roosting on top of the coop. ARGH! Stressful for them and for me! I just bought a new automatic door opener but what's the point of installing it if they don't go IN the coop!
I just love the coin purse, where do you Find these things? I so want one
Awesome information!!!! LOVE the coinpurses!!!!!!! Such great articles!! :-)
Love the articles. Keep 'em coming. I've learned so much from you.
My pleasure, Delia. Thank you!
Thanks so much Kasi and thanks for being with me on my blog, FB page AND Grit online!
8 chickens and counting, Stephanie. ;) Thanks and I'm glad to know this helps.
Congratulations Shelley! Chicken-keeping is a blast! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with at any time!
Thank you Michelle and good luck!
Thank you Joely! I guess even Santa forgets things sometimes too. :(
No, they'll find them all by themselves. Chickens like to lay in a dark, private location (sometimes with a friend or two!) and will seek out the nest boxes when they're ready to lay. You may see them walking in and out of them and test-driving the hay prior to laying thier first egg.
My pleasure, Susan! Good luck with the contest!
Smart, Sandy!
LOL, never mess with the energy level of a two year old, not even if you're a chicken!
Thanks so much, Bobby Sue. Good luck!
Thank you Kitty. :)
Thank you Lynn!
LOL Jessy. Whatever works, I say go with that!
Thank you very much, Peggy!
You're welcome!
Hi Cyn and welcome to chicken-keeping! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with at any time!
ROFL Suzi. Nice try. ;)
Thanks so much, Connie!
Thank you Tracy! ☺
Thanks Jennifer, my pleasure!
Good for you, Elaine! Me too. :)
Woo-hooo! Good for you, Andee! Keep me posted on the progress of things and let me know if I can help in any way.
Thank you and good luck!
Thanks Rebecca!
You're so sweet, Debby, thank you!
Thank you Wendy. My pleasure!
thanks for the great articales
I love this article great info. Love youd blog and Facebook page.
Awesome article. I am new to this with only 8 chickens and this was very helpful to me.
I've had my chickens for less than a week and I am learning something new every day. I love all the info on this site!
Those bags are ADORABLE! Love all these give-aways!
Great photos! I would looooove to win the coin purse to match my Betty Hen bag. I requested one for Christmas but Santa forgot ;-) Love your blog and Facebook page.
I wonder, do you have to encourage them to start using their nest boxes? I don't think any of them have even sat in them yet. Will they just know to go in them? Right now they just go inside the coop to roost.
Thank you for all the useful information on your blog. Would love to win the coin purse. Gotta keep my chicken collection growing ..lol
Exactly what I have been doing! Thanks for the validation!
We just had to chase chickens last night. My neighbor always calls me when she has to catch hers. I have a nine year old, a six year old, and a two year old. I think the two year old caught the most. The chickens think she is the weak link - she is very determined!
this is good info i hope i win the coin holder
Always great info! Thanks!
Great info! Thanks!!!!
I just hollar "Chee Chee!" And mine come running! LOL
Enjoyed the article and the photos
thanks for all the good advice!
I am a new chicken lady; thanks for all the good advice!
After letting the girls roost in the threes during the heat wave, I now have the daunting task of retraining...you could sure soften the retrain-pain by sending me the hen bag coin purse....
Wonderful article!
Great Info!! Love The Chicken Chick!!
Great advice!!! Thank you!
LOVE MY CHICKEES!!!
Thank you Carrie!
My pleasure Dawn. Thank you!
Baby chicks don't really need perches, they're just cute to put in the brooder for when they get a little older. It's tricky to get them to use the roosts. What I do when I have a nest box sleeper is close off access to the nest boxes after everyone has laid their egg for the day. When they return to roost at night, they won't be able to get into the nest boxes and will have the choice either to sleep on the floor or roost. Most will tow the line and hop up because their instinct is to sleep in a secure place. The nest boxes felt secure and high up in trees is too, so roosting in the coop is the natural extension of that instinct. If they try to sleep on the floor, put them up on the roosts when theyr'e in for the night. Some will get it but some never do. My bantam Cochin Frizzles never got it despite my best efforts. As long as they don't sleep in the nest boxes, I'm fine with them being in the corner of the coop.
Great info! I'm still researching but have picked out my coop and just have to get the go ahead from the township! It may require getting a neighborhood petition and ordinance change but I'm not giving up! We have almost an acre of fenced in land in a suburban Philly community. Enjoy reading all your articles-- I've learned so much! Thank you!
Yay Chicken Chick Love your Blog/FB page hope I win! ;)
Awesome info!!!!
Thanks Janet and good luck!
Aren't they adorable, Amanda??
My pleasure, Lisa!
It really is!
That's great to hear, Jaime!
Christy, it definitely helps to have more than one coop! I have two and it always amazes me that they have preferences about which they sleep in!
My pleasure, Kristin. Thank you. :)
As usual, you have brilliant thoughts!!! Chicken Chick is my hero.......I aspire to have my ladies living as nicely!! THANKS
Thank you Katy! I've been using this method for years with great success too.
Thank you!
That's hysterical, Jennifer! They are creatures of habit, that's for sure!
Always great information on your site! Thanks for the tips and tricks.
You're welcome Sheila and you're right, I learn something new every day!
You're welcome, Beth, I hope it helps with your new rooster!
Good for you Tanzie! I'm glad the fireworks didn't spook them too much.
You're absolutely right, Jeffrey, never try coop training when the temperatures inside the coop exceed 70°.
I'm having coop issues with 4 newbies that have been in the coop for a couple weeks now. The hen that hatched them out was eaten by a neighbor's dog when they were 12 days old, then we took them in the house to raise them until they were big enough to fend for themselves. During the time that they were little, we took them outside to free range with the others, but we played the role of mom & dad protecting them during that time. All seemed to be going well, until the last week or so. Our young pullets that are starting to lay are going after them, and the little ones are spending a lot of time in the coop. Today found 2 little ones in one of the nesting boxes. Chicken curtains don't work here ;) Pretty much encourages non-laying chickens to find privacy with those up.
Thank you Tracy!
Renee, you've got that right!
You bet, good luck!
Thank you Shelley, I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
love the info and pics
Thank you, this is very helpful.
mine go in no problem. and use nest box. they have 6 new boxes they still fight over box's and brake eggs. I have 17 hens and box's. I also found a nest in orchard. How do I get them to use the perches ? They want to stay on the floor huddled together. It is not cold. As baby's they did not have perches. any ideas ? Lynn Crone
good info and i would like to win either
Polish babies are the cutest babies!
Thanks for the article! There is always something new to learn about my girlz!
That is an awesome place to lay eggs!
This is definitely some new info that ive learned...
Thanks for the info. I always coop train and I have 3 different coops. When I let them all out at the same time they still go back to their respectable coop at night.
I love the nest in the tree, but it is certainly more convenient when they lay in the nest box. I've had one or two stubborn hens over the years. And I've had those shy newbies who hide and sleep in the boxes. Great info! Thanks for sharing.
Great article! We confine ours for a week when we first get new members or after a change (like a move across Texas). :) Great information!! :)
Great info!! Thanks! Plus i want a coin purse!!!
Great article! I did something similar, and now if the door accidentally shuts during the day, the minions will line up outside it and squawk until they can get in!
Great article ...I confined my new girls to their coop for the first week, then added light at dusk for the first few weeks they were running around outside. Now if somehow the door drifts shut during the day I find them lined up and squawking to get let in when it starts to get dark!
I am so glad you put this out, I just had 9 chicks hatch out and will need to coop train them, this is my first batch I have hatched out of an incubator. Thank you for all the great information you share.
Thanks for the information......always something to learn.....:)
Thanks for the input about waywere chickens wanting to sleep outside,I have 1 chicken that has just started doing this(we have discovered she is a rooster ) also both the contest prizes look great and would love to have one.
interesting! luckily i have never had a problem with getting my girls in to bed at night. they even slept in the house on the 4th of july and did great!
I'd try this with my new ducks, but it is still too hot at the moment.
Good helpful article, with good tips to solve an issue we all have.
So far I've been lucky but, since chickens are like potato chips, I'm sure this advice will come in handy in the future ;)
BTW-thanks for the opportunity to enter the contest!
Another great article! Thank you, Chicken Chick!