8 week olds won't go into their house on their own

[lendavis]

Hi,
I have 10 8-week olds--two Australorps, four Barred Rocks, and 4 Rhode Island Reds. They are in very good shape, running around in the coop and enjoying themselves. The coop house is raised two feet and I have a ramp from the run into the house. However, the chickens refuse to go in at night. I'm in NYC and the nights are in the 40's while the days are in the high 50's and 60's. I've been rounding them up and putting them in at night...do I need to do that? It's difficult to get them all in....they squawk and fly around in a panic.
Also, do I need a heat lamp inside now? When I get back late, they are just huddled together on the ground in a corner of the run. Would it be OK to leave them there for the night? In the morning, they can't wait to get out of the house and run out immediately with great joy.
L

 

[chicmom]

That is pretty normal for 8 week olds. Here's what I do......If you can, lock them in their coop for two full days with their food and water. You will see that this makes a big difference......

I have six eight week olds, and had the exactly the same problem when they went out to the "baby coop"--an A-frame with an attached run underneath the coop part......I had to round them up and it was really a chore to get them in at night. Sooo we had some stormy, rainy weather, and they were locked inside for a few days.

Sooo, the weather got nice and I opened their little coop and let them into the run, and that night--TADA, they all went inside. All by themselves! What a nice surprise.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

Mine are 7.5 weeks and have been in their coop for 2 weeks. It's only in the last few days that they are going to bed by themselves and they sometimes still need a bit of encouragement. I think they just need a little time.

 

[chicmom]

Oh, and I would say you don't need the heat lamp. They will cuddle together and keep eachother warm. Those feathers really do a good job of keeping them warm.

 

[Grungybones]

Chickmom- I'm having the same issue. I am going to try your idea!

 

[Backyard Hencam]

It sounds like you didn't shut them in their henhouse for a week to get their "homing" instincts in tact. Most of us shut them in the henhouse with a heat lamp, food, and water for a week, then release them to the outside. That way they know where to go to be safe and comfy.

Eight weeks is too early to have them outside at night at 40 degrees. If the inside is 40, I suggest you have a heat lamp. At 8 weeks, chicks should be at about 60 degrees. I suggest you start over and lock them in for a few days. Otherwise, do what you are doing and "round them up" at night until they understand where they go after dark. Good luck!

 

[Keri78]

Their all different...I've had some that figure it out at 6 wks. and others that I'm still putting to bed at 4 mths. old(my little buff silkie)...they usually figure it out after a few nights of putting them to bed.

 

[designer43]

My coop sounds similar, w/ the coop raised over the run. Ours may be slightly older, but my wife 'rounded them up' two days in a row and they started going inside themselves. Now we just go close the door after sundown. We had a lamp inside and they seemed to like it. Now that it's warmer, no light, but they go right in.

 

[lendavis]

Just wanted to let you all know that I solved this problem. Last night all the chickens were in the coop. How did I do this? Simple, I put a light in the henhouse. The light attracted them all. Then I closed the door and turned off the light. It worked like a charm.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Good for you! I hadn't thought of that!