does it matter if my chickens are put in the coop around the same time each night?
I think you meant to say "lock" instead of "put". You may have to train them, but they should put themselves in the coop at dark each night. That time will vary as the days get longer and shorter. The reason you need to lock them in the coop is predator protection. As Dobie mentioned, if you consider your run predator proof it's not an issue. If your run is not predator proof it is an issue.
Your issue is that you sometimes want to go to bed before the chickens put themselves to bed. Automatic doors might be a solution. As you said they cost money. If they are installed correctly and you don't have a power outage they are pretty dependable, but I also don't 100% trust them. There have been times I've failed to lock mine up at night and no predators found them. It's not a guaranteed disaster when that happens but there is certainly an enhanced risk you want to avoid.
You might try training them to go inside when you call them. I don't know what your set-up looks like, but if you make a certain call like "Chicky, chicky" and maybe rattle a feed bucket with a treat inside they usually soon come running if you feed then a treat each time. Consistently. It may not be that hard to get them to go inside when you want them to.
Again, I don't know your set-up. How hard would it be to herd them into the coop? Chickens do not herd very well. Mine tend to try to dart to the side instead of go where I want them to. But if I carry a broom or long stick in my hands ans spread them out I can eventually get them to go where I want. This might be easier in a ground level coop than one of those elevated coops. Possibly if you can do this and do it consistently they might learn to go in when you approach them with the broom.
I can't think of anything else that addresses your issue. Good luck!
I think you meant to say "lock" instead of "put". You may have to train them, but they should put themselves in the coop at dark each night. That time will vary as the days get longer and shorter. The reason you need to lock them in the coop is predator protection. As Dobie mentioned, if you consider your run predator proof it's not an issue. If your run is not predator proof it is an issue.
Your issue is that you sometimes want to go to bed before the chickens put themselves to bed. Automatic doors might be a solution. As you said they cost money. If they are installed correctly and you don't have a power outage they are pretty dependable, but I also don't 100% trust them. There have been times I've failed to lock mine up at night and no predators found them. It's not a guaranteed disaster when that happens but there is certainly an enhanced risk you want to avoid.
You might try training them to go inside when you call them. I don't know what your set-up looks like, but if you make a certain call like "Chicky, chicky" and maybe rattle a feed bucket with a treat inside they usually soon come running if you feed then a treat each time. Consistently. It may not be that hard to get them to go inside when you want them to.
Again, I don't know your set-up. How hard would it be to herd them into the coop? Chickens do not herd very well. Mine tend to try to dart to the side instead of go where I want them to. But if I carry a broom or long stick in my hands ans spread them out I can eventually get them to go where I want. This might be easier in a ground level coop than one of those elevated coops. Possibly if you can do this and do it consistently they might learn to go in when you approach them with the broom.
I can't think of anything else that addresses your issue. Good luck!
