Chicks going back in the coop

modestmaiden62

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jun 10, 2014
63
0
39
I have 6 week old chicks. They are lavender Orps and have been in their new coop about 2 weeks. For the first week we kept them locked in the coop since we didn't have the run fenced. About a week ago we finished the run and let them out. It rained that day and the chicks just stood out in the rain. I had to catch 3 of them and put them in the coop then the others went up the ramp and joined them. It rained the next two days so I left them locked in the coop then I let them out again and they went down the ramp and loved being out in the run all day like the first day I let them out. I had to put 3 (which seems to be the magical number since any less than that and they will just come out again) and the other two will walk up the ramp and join them. I have put their food in the coop now since last night and put a solar lamp (kind that line a flower bed so not much light) in the coop. I still had to put them in. They don't go back in after they come out in the morning and then I put some of them in and the rest go in. I guess I'll have to keep on putting them in there unless anyone has any advice I haven't read yet. Our coop is 3 feet off the ground. I'll post some pics of it. I think my husband did a great job, and I helped lol.
 
Mine were confused by the light in the coop, I think because it was bright enough to partially light the run (they still thought it was daytime). My girls wouldn't go in the coop on their own and it was annoying having to catch them after dark and put them in there myself. So I turned off the light in the coop, and the next night all six of them marched up the ladder themselves. I think it had to get dark to trigger the 'go home where it's safe' instinct. Maybe try letting it get dark naturally and see if that does the trick?

I've seen lots of other people who say the exact opposite, though, and putting a light in the coop drew their girls in after dark. Chickens are such silly creatures, lol!
 
The light was only in there last night. I think I'll take it out though since it didn't help. I was thinking of adding a hen that was laying age and maybe she would teach them. I just don't want a hen to pick and beat up the 6- 7 week old chicks.
Here is a video of my coop and the chicks first day with the door open. They didn't come out till later but they were thinking of it in the video.
0.jpg
 
I turned the ramp over and added cleats across it every so often and left it unpainted then that evening up in the coop they were at dark though not on the roost. Oh well they are learning. Maybe the white paint was too much for them.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom