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

[markb816]

Just got into the chicken experience. I just bought 6 egg laying hens. I let them out of the coop today. They seemed to enjoy their new surroundings and stayed close to their coop. However, when the sun went down only one went back into the coop. The other 5 roosted in trees and on the ground. I had to grab each one and physically put them in the coop. My question is, how can I get my hens to go in the coop each night, so I don't have to chase them down each evening??...PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[underground chickenman]

Don't let them out of the coop at all for a week to 10 days. Make sure they have plenty of feed, water and ventilation. After they have been in the coop for a week or two, they will recognize it as home and return there to roost at night.

This process will also help them learn where to lay. Put a golf ball in each nest box.

If you let them out without them first learning where home is, they may not only sleep in the trees, but lay their eggs in the bushes.


UGCM

 

[numamahen]

they will need some training... when we switched out meaties to the outdoor coop - they had no clue what to do at night. They would be huddled in the corner at night when it got dark. We would have to put them into coop. Eventually they got it! Also as "UGCM" said - they may lay in the bushes - we have had the same issue with not having enough boxes, we find eggs in the raspberry bushes as well had the girls tunnel into the compost heap & my SO found a nest of 7 in that!! So when it seems like you don't have enough eggs at night - you may want to check around. Our neighbor kids are great at finding the "hiding places" Good luck....

 

[Akane]

Lock them up for awhile. Only let them out for a few hours in the late afternoon to evening at first. Be there to shove them in the first few nights. They'll get it pretty quick. Usually within a day or 2 of being shoved in so long as you give them time to learn what home is first. They need to establish their roosting spots in the coop before you let them out and expect them to come back. Whenever I move new chickens to the coop I make sure they stay in for a few days whether that's everyone staying in, locking them in a pen, or young chickens tend to just not leave the coop at first.