Bed time...

[AnaD]

My three 11 week old pullets will not sleep in the coop with the 16 week pullets. They free range together, but seprately, peacefully. At night they run to the duck house at bed time and the ducks, 5 weeks, are confused. Connected by an enclosed run the ducks have moved from their home to the chicken coop where my 16 WOP are. I know this because the coop water is very dirty in the morning and they seem to get along with the chickens. Should I close up the coop and force my 11 WOP to sleep with the older? They did have a temporary wall, but I took it out recently.
I don't know if this is a bad thing or not. I'm tired of running around and trying to force the chicks into the coop. I hope things will just figure itself out over time and everyone will find their sleeping area.
What should I do to figure out bed time? Should I force them to sleep where they should? Should I let them do what they will? I just want bedtime to be less stressfull.

 

[BooBear]

Yeah you will have to place them into the coop they are supposed to be in until they get the routine down in their heads.
Chickens are creatures of habit and hate having their routines changed on them. Once they are used to the routine then they should start to go to the right coop on their own.
Another trick is to keep them locked up in their coop for 3 days to a week to make them associate that coop as their home. (you will be given alot of dirty boks and stinkeye though)

 

[AnaD]

Ugh! They would hate that! I think I'll put up the temporary wall again and force them to sleep inside. Everyone was so happy sleeping far apart.