When do they "coop" themselves?

Date sort Score sort
dcchickiemomma

dcchickiemomma

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jan 14, 2015
5
2
37
At what time do chickens begin going in the coop at night by themselves? They are 9 weeks old and I'm getting tired of catching them each night.
 
They should be doing it now. Is there good natural light in the coop? They won't want to go in a dark coop.
 
It has one window, but right now it also has a light because it has been so cool. Should they be going in before, after or at sunset?
 
They should wander in and be settled by the time it gets dark. Mine start staying close to the coop in the evenings, and are on the roost by the time the sun starts to disapear.


What was your method for introducing them to the coop in the first place? Perhaps they don't realize that the coop = home?
 
Put a light in the coop. Chickens are attracted to the light and will go in when it begins to get dark. Turn the light off when you go to lock them up. Do that for a few days and they'll get the hang of going in as it begins to get dark.
 
Make sure your not trying to put them to bed to early too. chicks tend to stay out later than older birds so they might go in on their own but just want to stay out a little longer. I know in my mixed flock the teenagers are always the last ones in. I have used the light trick to and it works well.
 
I have a light on because it's been chilly at night. Maybe I am rushing them. I'll try turning off during the day, on before roost and off again after they come in. They lived in the coop a couple of weeks before they were allowed to go outside so they know it's home. Thanks everyone.
 
They may be remembering being locked in there and therefore reluctant to go in, afraid they won't get to come out again.
 
I am new to this, our baby chicks will be here next week but I was wondering do they have to be locked in the coop every night ? We have the coop attached to a completely enclosed run its pretty big. Since we work during the day they cannot free range until we are home to watch them. But I wasn't sure if they had to be locked in the actual coop at night or if they could be in their run as well so they have the choice ! Our chicks will be here next week and I have been researching like crazy but I still haven't found the answer ! I hope it's ok to post on this thread, it was the closest one to my question I could find
1f60a.png
 
Yes they need to be in the coop at night Chickens have a habit of bunching up in up in a corner when their scared this makes it easy for a coon to reach in and grab them by the head if their in the run at night. The coop is much safer. That's why I never put a roost in the run till their in the habit of sleeping in the coop. If they never get in the habit of sleeping in the run you don't have to retrain them.
 

Similar threads

M
Combining Flocks & Flooring
Replies
5
Views
779
Mrs. K
Mrs. K
CrazyChickains
When to move chicks outside to coop
Replies
4
Views
1K
kengboss21
kengboss21
LaurenRitz
    • Like
Free range questions
Replies
9
Views
1K
LaurenRitz
LaurenRitz
D
    • Like
Free range
2 3
Replies
23
Views
2K
Donette
D
4
    • Love
How to get chickens to go to new coop.
Replies
4
Views
1K
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom