7 week olds and coop training

[Nodakj]

Just moved my chickens to the outdoor coop/run 2 days ago. They are loving the run but refuse to stay in the coop at night. I have put them in manually but they always immediately run back out. I had to put a bucket in front of the coop door at night to keep them in until I get a manual door in place. I've also tried placing them on the roosting bars and they just immediately jump off and go huddle in the corner to go to sleep. Is this normal? Do I keep doing what I'm doing? First time chicken owner here.

Are they full sized birds ? Someone mentioned that silkies and i think some bantoms don't like to perch at night.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When I coop train mine I wait until it is dark outside and lock them in the coop. Why wait until it is dark, because it is easier to catch them, no other reason. I toss them on the coop floor, I see no reason to put them on the roosts. My brooder raised chicks often don't start sleeping on the roosts at night until they are 10 to 12 weeks old anyway, but when they are ready they move themselves up there. I don't care where mine sleep as long as it is predator safe and not in my nests. Baby chicks sleep on the brooder floor, broody hens keep their chicks on the floor until they take them to the roosts, and in several other cases they sleep on the floor without issues.

Light can complicate them going into the coop. Their trigger to go to bed is that it starts to get dark. If your outside is well lit, maybe street lights or security lights, they may not get that trigger to go to bed. They also need to be able to see to go into the coop. It's possible by the time it gets dark enough outside they can't see inside well enough to go in. I handle that with a window but some people use a light for that. Sometimes a light does make a difference.

It may sound like a contradiction, they need light to go inside but it needs to be dark enough so they can't see to hop down if you put them on the roost. I avoid that by letting them sleep on the floor if they prefer that. Once they get to the point they want to go on the roosts they will.

 

[rcm1201]

Are they full sized birds ? Someone mentioned that silkies and i think some bantoms don't like to perch at night.

Yep, White Rocks and Buff Orps

Update:
Night 3: 4 of them made it into the coop by themselves. I only had to grab 1 to put her in. They still didn't roost so I went it shortly after dark and set them on their roost. 3 stayed, 2 hopped off and went to sleep in a nesting box.

 

[rcm1201]

Update - We have had 5 nights, past 2 nights all 5 made it in on their own. They just end up doing the huddle cuddle in a corner. After dark I have tried to go out and move them onto the roost but I have yet to have success with all of them staying on. At this point I'm just happy they are making it into the coop - I will let them huddle cuddle and hope they learn to roost on their own.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

hope they learn to roost on their own.

They will!

 

[Miss Flowerpot]

Try a night light

Thank you for this tip, last Friday I tried it for their second night and it worked like a charm. After the door closed, I went out and turned off the light. They've been putting themselves to bed ever since. Today, I removed the night light and found one of the hens hanging out inside the coop mid-morning. Thanks again.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you for this tip, last Friday I tried it for their second night and it worked like a charm. After the door closed, I went out and turned off the light. They've been putting themselves to bed ever since. Today, I removed the night light and found one of the hens hanging out inside the coop mid-morning. Thanks again.

The hive mind of BYC strikes again! Wish we had electricity to our coop. DH went out there and chased them through the gate again - said it was easier this time, only two were reluctant again, but easier tonight than last night, which was a two- person rodeo. . Later we went out after dark and I picked them up out of a corner and by flashlight stuck them all up on the roost. Yah, I know that given time they will all roost but I wanted to teach them how sooner rather than later. I don't want them getting pooped on from the, er, "higher-ups," lol. Also Iwanted to be sure they actually all fit.

 

[Miss Flowerpot]

The hive mind of BYC strikes again! Wish we had electricity to our coop. DH went out there and chased them through the gate again - said it was easier this time, only two were reluctant again, but easier tonight than last night, which was a two- person rodeo. . Later we went out after dark and I picked them up out of a corner and by flashlight stuck them all up on the roost. Yah, I know that given time they will all roost but I wanted to teach them how sooner rather than later. I don't want them getting pooped on from the, er, "higher-ups," lol. Also Iwanted to be sure they actually all fit.

I don't have electricity, I used one of my farmers market/emergency lanterns, worked like a charm.