any advice welcome sleeping problem

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

my 4 wyandottes are WELL ready to sleep in the coop. the problem is the tub they slept in while smaller (but they still sleep in it) is what they go to when its time for bed. i sit it on the poarch most mornings when i let them out. they come up on the poarch and get in it and ready for bed they are. we went out to eat last night and got back around their bed time. i had put them in the pen with the tub in there also. they were wanting out of the pen really BAD. I let them out they ran around front ran up on the poarch and got in the tub( i brought it from the pen and put it there because i knew thats what they wanted. they are used to it being on the poarch so they associate going to bed with the poarch and the tub. how can i break them from this. they really need to be out of it. they still like to lay down together. i hate to break them i mean they cant sleep in that tub much longer they are 3 months old. help!!!

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

i did put them in the coop and they flew out of it.

 

[Kikiriki]

Does the coop not have a door? Mine tried to sneak out one by one: as I caught one and stuck her in the coop, another would have come out already. I had to close the door for each one. They will settle down eventually if they make a rucus about it. Mine still like to gather together on the roost. I changed the roost configuration as they grew and it freaked them out because they couldnt squish together. Mine were five weeks old, though when they went to the coop. You really might have to just lock them in there for a week until they habituate to it. You can alsomwait until they settle down for the night, then put into the coop and keep them there for a week. I'd take that tub away, too... They dont need it, they're just used to it. Or turn it into a shallow wading pool the first time you let them free again. That should convince them it isnt their bed anymore!

Post back how they do...