At what point do my chickens know when it’s time to go in the coop?

[RW1984]

Maybe that’s my issue. It was sunset when I tried this. I will try tomorrow night when it’s completely dark and see how that works. They will not roost during the day....maybe a change of habitat has them all weirded out.

I created an alternating roost ladder with a 4x4 and some 2x2 boards
Mine love it
In fact I have some that are 18 inches off the ground spread along the fence of their run, as well as the baby gate enclosure I used to raise them till they were 8 weeks and some stumps and logs.
They love perching on all of those and hanging out. Not sure what your run looks like but maybe incorporate some daytime roosts for them to use also.
I recently put a swing in there. They don’t use the swings lol but they use the bar at the top to hang out on haha

 

[tsperry88]

Maybe that’s my issue. It was sunset when I tried this. I will try tomorrow night when it’s completely dark and see how that works. They will not roost during the day....maybe a change of habitat has them all weirded out.

I really think the roosts don't give them the feeling of being up on something. 6" or more inches higher would help.

At this point the most important thing is making them feel like the coop is where they sleep. Make sure it is easy for them to go in and out, and just place them in there if they haven't gone in by dark on their own. Mine were locked in the coop for at least a week when they were young. The first day I let them out, when it started getting dark, they started freaking a making and ruccous. Eventually they made their own way back in. They don't like habbits being changed, so you just have to create the habbits you want them to have.

 

[dikitty]

It took us quite a few evenings physically putting the chickens into the coop before they learned to go inside. (Though we had less trouble with our second batch of chicks.) The Welsummers didn't roost until we blocked off their sleeping corner and now they're fine, at 18 weeks. We have a "training" roosting bar on the side where the Golden Comet chicks are now. I'm not sure if they roost on it or not, but they were sitting on top of the feed/water dispensers and the brooder plates at like 1 week old so I think they are more inclined to roost than the welsummers were.

Ah well, good luck! They'll get it eventually.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok so I waited a little longer tonight and they still wouldn’t go in on their own. So I put them in and I tried for about 5 minutes to get them to stay on the roosting bar and they keep jumping off and running into the corner. What am I doing wrong?

Roosts are too low, which is a common problem with many prefab coop builds. If you can elevate them about a foot or so (up to where that bulb is, and then remove that), it'll make them more appealing to the chickens.

 

[aart]

Roosts are too low, which is a common problem with many prefab coop builds. If you can elevate them about a foot or so (up to where that bulb is, and then remove that), it'll make them more appealing to the chickens.

Ditto Dat!!

Here's an excellent modification to that kind of coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-in-nest-boxes.1134399/page-2#post-17749535

 

[2006powerstroke90]

I’ll tell you what. These chickens are just about as stubborn as I am. Pitch black out tonight....I put them in the coop and then tried to put them on the roosting bar and boom they jumped off and ran into the corner. After about 10 minutes Of this I gave up. I will raise the roosting bars and see what happens. I hope the chicks in my garage don’t give me this much trouble lol

 

[aart]

I hope the chicks in my garage don’t give me this much trouble lol

How many birds total will you have?
Oh, 8?
Coop pretty darn small for 8 birds.

 

[2006powerstroke90]

Yes, 8 total, but i figured a few will probably turn out to be roosters and I have a friend who will take them. Although, if they all turn out to be hens that’s when I will make a custom built coop.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

I’ll tell you what. These chickens are just about as stubborn as I am. Pitch black out tonight....I put them in the coop and then tried to put them on the roosting bar and boom they jumped off and ran into the corner. After about 10 minutes Of this I gave up. I will raise the roosting bars and see what happens. I hope the chicks in my garage don’t give me this much trouble lol

Have you raised your roosting bar yet? It's way to low for them to feel safe. They're huddling in the corner to feel secure.

 

[kubotafoot]

Most all of my birds sleep on roosting bars, but this last year, all of the geriatric hens have moved from the roosting bar to a shelf just behind and a bit under the bars in height. I think they feel more comfortable not having to balance all night and enjoy snuggling with each other. It started last fall when the temperatures started to fall and has stay this throughout the year. They have hay to snuggle in and I change it out twice a week, but they are happy and healthy and no falls.