Bought Hens, How to get them to go in coop at night?

[rcentner]

I have never had problems with them going to the coop at night, but we ALWAYS keep them in the coop for 3-4 days. The 1st chickens we ever got we kept in for 1 week. If you don't want to keep them in the coop you can put a fence (that they can't fly over) around the coop so they can get outside, but choose to roost in the coop cause that is the only option. After a week of that, they will go in the coop at night as long as there are suitable roosts in the coop.

 

[SunnyChic]

I also kept them in the coop for a week when they first went outside. When I go out every evening to collect the eggs, I also take and scatter some BOSS (black oil sunflower seed) on the coop floor. They still go into the coop whether I give them a treat or not, but both the girls and I enjoy our evening "ritual"! It's really interesting how chickens are such a creature of habit!

 

[hipeatall]

I house new additions in a cage inside the coop for about a week... so they can get used to their new home and new chickie family. We have an automatic door on the coop and I think seeing all the old chickies come in and out helps them get an idea of how everything works

.
A little while back I had trouble with some of my newer hens going in at night. After a bit of thinking, I figured out it was because it had suddenly gotten really dark inside their house... it was getting pretty cold out and so I had closed all of the "shutter doors" on the wire covered windows (the picture shows the coop with all the windows closed - dutch door window, a little one above that, another little one on the back and big ones on each side over the little covered "porch" areas)... once I opened some of the shuttered windows back up and let the light back in they were fine. I stapled plastic sheeting over the wire windows to let light in and keep the chill out... this worked great. I really like the idea of adding a light inside... maybe one of those solor "shed" lights I've seen at Harbor Freight... hmmm

... always looking for ways to improve the set up!