5 Wk Old Buff Orpingtons And Coop

[baha54]

Hi Folks,
Just put my chicks in the coop and they are adjusting but i have a few issues. Maybe someone out there has gone thru this and can help me. I am new at this so bare with me.

How do i train them to go into the coop after the end of the day, if they had their way they would roam all nite long out in the run but i cant have that. I need to know they are safe when i go to bed. I have tried placing some treats on the ladder to entice them but it aint working. I seem to have to get down on my knees and catch them and put them one by one in the coop. My knees are not great since i was in a head on collision in february so i need some suggestions. Perhaps i am rushing them or does this just take time but in the meantime it is getting dark and they still want to be out and becomes harder to catch them when i loose the light. HELP SOS CLUCK CLUCK

. I have researched and read but no one seems to talk about this important subject. Thanks, Maria

 

[ozark hen]

Welcome, Maria! I had to put mine inside the run each night and it took less than a week till they got the idea to go in at night. As you add to your flock the new ones will follow the others inside at night.

 

[lowry075]

I shut mine up for the night for a few days until they got the idea.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Mine have been out in the coop for 2 weeks and & I try to wait till dusk to put them to bed. But we have been having major hot weather & even with the fan on in the coop it is just as hot inside as outside. They went in by themselves a few times, but for the most part, I still have to catch them & put them to bed.

 

[HollywoodHillsHens]

When I put the chicks in their coop for the first time after moving out of their brooder / our master bathroom, I kept them in the coop for 2 days (with food & water of course) before letting them free roam our yard. They figured out this was their "home" after that. Not sure if that will "rehab" a chick who's roamed all night but might be worth a try!

 

[serenityNH]

I am going through the same thing! My chicks went out into the coop last Friday and every night I have to chase them around and put them back in. Tonight my hubby put them up on the ramp and I lured them in with treats but I still don't think they got it

I hope they catch on soon

 

[lburress]

I let mine roam until the cat incident today. I have to pick them up and put them in. The other day they were all in there laying down. They'll get it.

 

[ChestnutRidge]

I moved my chicks out at 5 weeks and had them spend one day just inside the coop. The next day, I let them out into the run and came back at 8:00 pm to put them in. I had a terrible time! I was chasing flapping birds around and under the coop, and it took me half an hour! So, the day after that, I bought some treats thinking I'd tempt them back into the coop. I was outside working on my garden, as the sun began to go down, I decided I ought to go and put them in. I grabbed my treat and headed up the hollow at about 8:45 and... there was not a bird to be seen. They were all inside. And every day since, I just go up when the sky is nearly dark, usually now around 9:05 (um, about now, actually), and close the pop door. That's it.

So, I don't know if your birds are the same as mine, but I'd just check on them a bit later. You may find they have already put themselves to bed.
Good luck!

 

[baha54]

well thanks for all the suggestions and i will see what happens, i will try all the suggestions given and see what happens. As suggested i might get another chick that is slightly older than these who knows the routine and perhaps she can teach them the routine, i am exhausting all suggestions but lets see what happens. I will try doing this slightly later as suggested since i was putting them in when it is lighter out and that is what is confusing them maybe????????????? Thanks to all for ur suggestions. Happy Clucking

 

[minichic]

Try turning on a light inside the coop when it's time to roost for the night. My girls are 3 mos. old and I still have to put a light on inside the coop or I find them roosting on the coop roof instead of inside. They have been in their coop since they were six weeks old and they still manage to NOT go inside at night. Silly little chickies. Once they are tucked in for the night, I turn off the light.