Chickens back into coop at night, and light...

[Panhandler80]

Yep, a small light will lure them in from the dark.
I use a battery operated puck light, turn it on just before dusk,
then turn it off when I lock up after dark.

Yeah... that's what I learned, and I bet that sun going down across the water (open view) is what drew them all out the other night. They were sure enough not happy once they were in the run and it was dark out. Hopefully they'll figure it out fairly soon without the whole light routine. I'd like to keep trips out there as quick and streamlined as possible. It's also my intention to leave door into coop open, so having them learn on their own would be great. I honestly think my set up is secure enough to do this. I'm in a fenced in half acre yard so random dogs aren't a concern. Coons and possum will be my only night time concerns. I'm 100% hardware cloth and every single inch of hardware cloth-to-lumber seam has been sandwiched with trim boards. HW cloth runs underground 10-12" around perimeter. HW cloth outside of 4x4 uprights, sandwiched against the 4x4 with 2x8 that are mostly buried, and then sandwich trim on inside of 2x8. I realize I'm taking a risk, but the prospect of them putting themselves to bed every night is too appealing not to give it a try. I really don't see a possum or coon getting into the coop. No fox, no bear, no weasels, no gophers, no ground hogs, no hogs for that matter.

 

[PVILLAGO]

I have 11wk old chicks. They are smart girls. I kept them in the coop for the first 8wks and for the past 3wks they have been going in and out from the coop to the run with the aid of the solar powered omlet auto door (which I LOVE)
The question is. My coop is not very bright during the day so should I leave a light on? I have one that comes on at dark. The omelet door also has a light that comes on in the coop 5min before the door closes. The girls have gone in every night without me having to help them. I always go check to make sure they're all in and so far, so good. But the lights inside are the question.

 

[aart]

I have 11wk old chicks. They are smart girls. I kept them in the coop for the first 8wks and for the past 3wks they have been going in and out from the coop to the run with the aid of the solar powered omlet auto door (which I LOVE)
The question is. My coop is not very bright during the day so should I leave a light on? I have one that comes on at dark. The omelet door also has a light that comes on in the coop 5min before the door closes. The girls have gone in every night without me having to help them. I always go check to make sure they're all in and so far, so good. But the lights inside are the question.

Is their feed and water inside?
Do they go in the coop during the day?

 

[Mrs. K]

I think they were used to sleeping under a light, the heat lamp. In a more natural setting, they sleep in the dark, under a broody hen. So I think they were scared of the dark.

 

[PVILLAGO]

Is their feed and water inside?
Do they go in the coop during the day?

They run in and out all day long. There is water in the coop and also in the run but no longer is there feed inside the coop.