Any Suggestions for Bedtime?

[lizzy06019]

I don't have anything new to suggest as all the advice you've been given is great. I wanted to add that I had the same problem with my girls and I just had to wait will it got darker out. I've sat and watched them once around bedtime and was surprised to see how early some go in for the prime roosting spot, while others hang out for another HOUR! They do, eventually, put themselves to bed and I don't have to run around after them anymore. Much more enjoyable now! But it truly is their instinct. They won't stay outside all night long, promise! Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[Ramsdale]

The girls are a month old now and yes I am still having to move them indoors, not all of them now at least. A few go in on their own as soon as the sun starts to set. I've been putting their light on about an hour before hand and l have seen every single one of them go in and out of the coop so I know they know how its just they are lazy or are entertained by me crawling in after them.

An after thought for the whole scenario, there are two ducks mixed in with them and they do tend to follow what the ducks do and they never go in on their own. I am thinking that they might have something to do with this. The ducks will be living in their own area if I ever get it finished! So I think that until then we will be assisting the stubborn ones into the coop,

 

[kayri]

hmmm, mine have always gone in on their own when it gets dark enough. It gets dark around 8 pm now and they usually start congregating around 7:45. Funny, they won't go in if they see me, they will rush out to see if I have any treats, so I have to hide to watch them around bedtime. The only time I had a problem with them not going in was when the coop had mites and I didn't know it for a week or so. It was awful, I had to get my full chemical arsenal out to combat them, but I finally won.

 

[skypatrol]

I agree with trunkman. Since they do know where "up" is and that it is safe inside, they WILL go up at dusk. In winter time mine were going up at 5:30. Now they are going up at 8:05. They are hard wired to go "up" at night so they will do it. Try getting a lawn chair and a cold beer at around dusk and watch them argue with each other to "get on up here with the rest of us". Quite entertaining.

 

[fl_deb]

I definitely agree with "they know when to go to bed" theme because mine do not even have a coop yet

, but if I am outback working on their coop, they all come up on the back porch and quite demandingly insist that I open the door so they can get to their cage to roost for the night.

The first night they did this, I was a little slow in realizing what they wanted as I was concentrating on the measure twice, cut once aspect of coop building. but they were very persistant and now I would have to say they have trained me very well. LOL

 

[Ramsdale]

Going with the let them be method tonight hopefully! We'll see what happens! Its 8:45 now and they are all happily snoozing beneath the coop... its just now getting to sunset. Their area is all in shadow and cloudcover is moving in again.

 

[redhen]

Okay.. first thing you need is a good childrens book... (it should have chickens in the story line..very important..)
Then you call them into the coop..give them a little treat...
Place them all on their night-time roots...
Then find a comfy chair and sit with them and read them the story...
Some may try the old trick....." Moooom... I want a drink... i have to go pee ..Mooom, shes pushing me!..Mooom,......" ... DONT fall for it... tell them that its time for bed very firmly!
Read them their storty for the night..give them all kisses... and leave the night light on for them... they'll be fine!

 

[emmak]

Quote:
I agree. Let them go to bed on their own. Mine have done it from day one. I just wait till they've gone to bed and then close up the coop.

 

[rriveramri]

I have looked at your coop on your web-page. It is very nice. The ramp is a bit steep. Mine is too. My chicks were reluctant at first but when I added the cross steps they starting using the coop regularly. Decrease the angle and add cross steps every 4 inches is my advice.

Good Luck

 

[Ramsdale]

So we figured out that it is the ducks.
They did make their way up to bed, all that is except for the ducks. They sat down and just cried. Of course because of the commotion here come all the chickens back out to see what is happening.

The ramp has been adjusted since the picture I posted, cross steps are there now. But it is still too steep for ducks they need a lift to get up, but they can get down just fine. So here we go getting them all back to bed since the ducks got everyone back up and it was playtime again!

We will be separating them this weekend as long as I can find a screen door for the duck run. They are getting a little house all to themselves and even their own in ground swimming pool!

Hopefully this will solve our bedtime troubles!