Chickens heading back to coop

[shoo80]

My chickens have been in their coop and run for about two weeks now. They don't go back into the coop at night, I have to put them back in. When will they start going back in at night on their own. Tonight they were huddled up in one corner. My chickens are 9 or 10 weeks old.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Don't feel like you are alone, I'm going through the same thing. Mine are 8,9 and 10 weeks old and tonight is the first time SOME have been in the coop when we got home from work tonight. Do a search for the post "Cold Babies" and you can read what I've been going through too. Good Luck with yours.

 

[JohnG]

I have 30 5wk old chics that have been let out each day now for about one week. and last nite was the first time all chics were inside when I went to check on them right after dark. I was wondering the same thing.

 

[pattycake]

They're still really young. I think mine were over three months before they stopped piling in a corner and actually went into the henhouse at dark. Just keep helping them and they'll do it on their own in a few weeks.

I remember thinking it seemed like they were taking a long time...

 

[Portia]

All but 2 of my 15 went into their coop by themselves tonight! Like the rest of you, we were having to 'save' them from some chosen perch in the yard where they were loudly trying to get our attention...then we had to chase them around, catch them and put them in the coop. After a few nights of this I grew weary and put some of their favorite food (cucumber) on the 'steps' leading into the coop; this was during the day, but I found them going in and out. At dusk several of them had went in on their own. I did the same thing again today and 13 of them made it in independently. Tomorrow I'm hoping for 100%...but I won't be disappointed if it takes a bit longer.

They are 8 weeks old.

 

[nccountrygirl]

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, we got home tonight to 10 happy chicks in the coop.

 

[sBrickmanHouse]

We started letting ours out in the run at 6 weeks, and it took them a couple of weeks to catch on, but they started going in at night on their own.

Now at 11 weeks they put themselves to bed at dusk, like clockwork, and have been for a few weeks.

So at least from my experience, your chicks aren't too young, but it does take them some time to get the hang of it!

 

[whoami]

We bought our chickens 2 weeks ago. There are 7 pullets and 1 rooster. Have they been in the coop long enough to be let out?

One did escape and my husband found her outside the coop looking in. So he was able to catch her and put her back in.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

The simple solution is to lock your chickens in the coop for several days in a row, all day and night. Then when you finally let them out, they will automatically head there themselves when it starts to get dark at dusk.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Yes, Whoami, two weeks is more than enough time.

They should put themselves to bed at dusk now and jostle for the best position on the roost.

Carla