7 week olds not going into coop at dark

[jrudolph305]

Some of our 7 week old chicks just hunker down at dark and don't go back into the coop. When we put them in the coop we didn't let them out for a few days. I also put in a lower roost thinking they would come into roost for the night. It has been cold at night so am leaving the heat lamp on again hoping that would entice them inside. Any other suggestions, secrets ideas etc. Thanks!

 

[chickzndahood]

If their new to the coop, just keep taking them out and in for the morning or night until they get the idea. Thats what I do. It took like 2 days for mine.

 

[bj taylor]

to save myself some hassle, I use a simple broom as a herding tool. I very gently herd them toward the door until one jumps in to get out of the way, then another, then another. this current batch of chicks I had to herd them in at night for two nights. the third night they figured it out.

 

[jrudolph305]

It's been about 5 nights and it isn't always the same girls--only a couple every night. I know they know how to go up as they do during the day. As far as scooting them in unfortunatly we have a long ramp. I guess I'll justkeep putting them up. It is getting cold and rainy the next 3 days so maybe I'll keep them in to get the hint as to where the need to be at night.

 

[sunflour]

I'm new to chicken raising, but am having success with lighting the coop at dusk to get them to go in. Everyone's situation is different, but hope this will help:


I was a nervous newbie about moving my gals outside. Got surveillance cameras to monitor what they do and how they reacted to changes. Moved them into their new all in one coop and run at 5 weeks. We had to pick them up and place in coop at nite for 2 weeks and pick them up and bring out of the coop for 3 mornings. Heat lamp light in the coop did not entice them to go in, but kept them awake and up at nite. Our weather was warm enough to turn it off late, and when turned off they go to sleep in about 15 minutes and sleep all nite. It took about one week before they entered the coop daytime and I thought they would be ready to enter it at nite without assistance, but it took another week for that to happen. We decided to try the light in the coop...placed a 40 watt regular light in the coop. We turn it on about 1 hour before sundown, and happily find that they started going in by their selves. We give them a few minutes to find their roost or floor bed and turn it off. Once they started going in at nite, we tried not turning the bedtime light on, but they stayed out in the dark. Turned it back on and they all got up and went in. I have the light plugged in on my deck, so we can start and stop the light from my house. I don't know how long it will take for the gals to learn to go in without the light, but will keep trying.

 

[jrudolph305]

Good luck! We had chickens in the past but always got 10-12 week old hens. Never had problems with them coming in at night and roosting. Guess patience will be a virtue.