Chickens are not returning to nor roosting in their coop at night, and I'm not sure what to do.

[Chicken-President]

For background: Chickens are all 7 weeks old, they moved into their coop on Sunday evening. They were let out into the run on Tuesday morning (3 days ago). Chicken door is set to close automatically around sundown.

So far, I've had to manually pick each chicken up and put it into the coop. Coaxing with treats did not work, and neither did a night light turned on inside the coop before the door closed. When placed in the coop, they chirp a ton, huddle together and almost trample over each other trying to get into a corner, but they don't seem to want to roost (I placed a few perches throughout the coop). With that being said, I worry about them not being comfortable and also about having to manually place them in the coop for all eternity. I have a zig-zag ramp leading to the coop, and I wonder if they can't figure out where they need to go at night? I've seen some of them return to the coop during the day though, so it seems like they understand the system.

Am I just too eager and need to give them more time? Do I need to adjust the door closing time? Do I lock them into the coop for a few days to make it feel more like home? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chicken opey]

I don’t have an automatic door but when I transferred my 24 from their box, I had to put them up. There’s still a couple that don’t want to go in!
So, I’m following to see advice too.
Mine are 8 weeks old

 

[Cargo]

Just like a cat, they need to learn and get used to where home is.
Lock them in the coop for a couple weeks.

 

[nuthatched]

How much light is in you coop?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd lock them in for longer than a couple of days provided you have ample space and natural light and ventilation.

 

[aart]

I'd lock them in for longer than a couple of days provided you have ample space and natural light and ventilation.

Ditto Dat^^^....and forget about auto door until they are regularly going to roost.

 

[PoppasGrill]

We have some twerps from the last clutch of 26 that still aren’t roosting at 4+months. They stand on top of the nesting boxes or on the ground while the big girls are roosting on the bars. We’ve gone into the coop at night and picked them up to put them on the roosting bars where they stay until morning. They just won’t do it on their own.

 

[PoppasGrill]

For background: Chickens are all 7 weeks old, they moved into their coop on Sunday evening. They were let out into the run on Tuesday morning (3 days ago). Chicken door is set to close automatically around sundown.

So far, I've had to manually pick each chicken up and put it into the coop. Coaxing with treats did not work, and neither did a night light turned on inside the coop before the door closed. When placed in the coop, they chirp a ton, huddle together and almost trample over each other trying to get into a corner, but they don't seem to want to roost (I placed a few perches throughout the coop). With that being said, I worry about them not being comfortable and also about having to manually place them in the coop for all eternity. I have a zig-zag ramp leading to the coop, and I wonder if they can't figure out where they need to go at night? I've seen some of them return to the coop during the day though, so it seems like they understand the system.

Am I just too eager and need to give them more time? Do I need to adjust the door closing time? Do I lock them into the coop for a few days to make it feel more like home? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

At that age you should keep them in the coop , locked in if possible, so they know they are in their forever home. That also depends on if you have bigun’s in with them.
When we put our RI Blues in the big coop last weekend they stayed in the coop all day as the big girls walked in and out, and just recently started venturing out the door but staying close to run back in if the bullies started towards them. We put in a low roosting bar about a foot high and 4-5 of the 6 will get on it during the day. The last clutch used the low bar for 2-3 weeks before they realized they could get higher, then started getting on the high bars with the big girls.

 

[crowe66]

i had a rooster and 3 hens that insisted on sleeping the floor for a few months and one day..viola.....they were all on the roost. I have no insight as to why but perhaps give it some more time.

 

[LaFleche]

Inspect the coop thoroughly for poultry mites and take immediste action if you find some.

Then provide some kind of night light inside the coop as it is often very dark in the coop already when the sun goes down and they finally realize it is time to go in for the night.