Advice for this newbie! Young pullets NOT returning to the coop at dusk!

[Fred's Hens]

I live in Maine and it can be in the 50's at night. I was told that they needed the heat at night until they were 10-12 weeks old!

My goodness no. That wasn't informed at all. Once they are feathered out at 5 or 6 weeks, they'll be just fine with nights in the 50's. They are wearing down covers and they'll huddle with their mates for extra warmth and a feeling of security. Naturally hatched chicks, by a brooding hen, would never still be under the hen's wings at that age, as she'd have booted them out away from her long ago.

 

[chickenbythesea]

they should be locked up at night to protect from predators, yours are old enough heat wise. Some just seem to catch on quickly and others take longer.

 

[Reyort]

We have a 16'x4'x4' run for our 5 week old chicks. Two weeks ago they started roosting on the edge of their box instead of sleeping in their box. So we built roosa ladder using dowel rods and braces from an old hammock. We angled it and put under the end of the run with the tarp. They naturally roost up on the highest rungs. I hope when i move them to their final coop they will just naturally move to the roost that I have for them..