So...I shut up the run at night for safety's sake, and I have been leaving the door to the coop open - it opens into the run. In HOPES that they will move indoors should it get that cold. See...what had happened was....
I got my little starter flock...then it got added to (long story) but those babies were 6-8 weeks behind mine...so we kept them separate until recently. Then they free ranged together...and the very first night everyone pretty much put themselves to bed in the run (well, the older ones went in the coop because they are just that well behaved...the younger ones went in the run and I found them sleeping next to the coop door / roosted on the branches I have in there like a little jungle gym). I have been noticing that a few have been sleeping in the coop with my first babies (now full grown ladies). But the majority choose to stay out on the jungle gym area I made.
So I have been leaving the door open to the coop. But should I go ahead and teach them to go in at night by doing a lockdown? Or will they go when they see fit? It hasn't even rained since the first big day of free ranging...so I don't know if that will make them go in...
Where's the experts? Someone tell me what to do!
I'm confused again....silly chickens work my nerves!
I got my little starter flock...then it got added to (long story) but those babies were 6-8 weeks behind mine...so we kept them separate until recently. Then they free ranged together...and the very first night everyone pretty much put themselves to bed in the run (well, the older ones went in the coop because they are just that well behaved...the younger ones went in the run and I found them sleeping next to the coop door / roosted on the branches I have in there like a little jungle gym). I have been noticing that a few have been sleeping in the coop with my first babies (now full grown ladies). But the majority choose to stay out on the jungle gym area I made.
So I have been leaving the door open to the coop. But should I go ahead and teach them to go in at night by doing a lockdown? Or will they go when they see fit? It hasn't even rained since the first big day of free ranging...so I don't know if that will make them go in...
Where's the experts? Someone tell me what to do!