Chickens Not going in At Night?

[roostersandhens]

So I have 2 flocks and 2 coops for each one. My 1st flock went in the coop themselves after about 1 - 2 weeks. My newer flock won't go in! They have been free - ranging for about 6 weeks probably more. They are about 15 - 17 weeks old, if that matters. I thought they would just go in. I really need them to start going in my June 15th, I have someone (with no chickens) coming to watch them because I'm going to be out of town. I'm going to miss them so much, I usually cry when I have to leave them, I love them so much. Well I don't know if the person coming can handle catching them all. Do u think they'll be going in by then? Is there a way to train them? Oh and I have 1 more question if anyone knows. My goats keep eating my chicken's food. There is no pen around it, and they eat it ALL! The ground squirrels are eating it too, but that isn't a problem they don't eat much of it. I love ground squirrels. Anyways if anyone has any advice I would appreciate it.
Thanks so much!

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

Lock the chickens in the coop a few days. They will get the idea.

Goats should not have layer due to the high calcium levels. You need build a feeder that allows access for the chickens but not the goats. Good luck, though. Goats are very determined when they want to eat something.

 

[oswald808]

you could try giving them a treat when you want them to go inside...

a friend of mine did that with a bell and now whenever he wants them inside, just rings the bell and they come running

 

[moetrout]

Your coop is dark and scary so as the sun goes down it is not inviting them to go in. Both of my coops have "night lights" in them. That little bit of light makes the coop more inviting and safe to them. As the sun goes down and it gets dark out that little bit of light will coax them in. What I use for night lights are solar led sidewalk lights. I get mine at Home Depot for $3.88, They have a stake for putting them into the ground. I remove the stake and put them in the window of the coop with the little solar recharge panel facing out and the led light facing in. These are the ones I use:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Outdoor-Solar-Path-Light-49552-300AS/203483386

If you look at the picture, the only part I use off of it is the very top black piece. I pitch everything else. I have 2 of them in the big coop and one in the little bantam coop. Trust me, this will solve your problem and no electricity needed! I am going on 5 years of using these. I just got 3 silkies last night I put them in the unused bantam coop. My wife was out getting ready to put them and she said the solar light went on and one of them went straight inside. The other two had to be put in, but it won't be but a few days and they will follow the lead of the other.

 

[tlagnhoj]

I'm not sure dark and scary is how my barred rocks describe the unlit-for-the-last-2-years coop that they have gone into every night. :/ I agree light may attract them in, the way light attracts moths. But I'm not sure it has anything to do with making it less scary. After all, unless the wild ancestors caught and contained fireflies in jars, I don't think there were any inviting lights to make the trees less scary.

Light and food are just enticements to make the coop more inviting than their current choice. Whether they work will depend on why they are choosing not to go in. By all means try the food, lights, even locking them in the coop for a day if that's possible. But also look at why they won't go in. Can you eliminate the option to stay outside? Perhaps make it less palatable to them than the coop. Disturbing them continually as they try to bed down for the night unless they are doing so in the coop is another way of making them re-prioritize their night-time crash pad.

 

[roostersandhens]

Lock the chickens in the coop a few days. They will get the idea.

Goats should not have layer due to the high calcium levels. You need build a feeder that allows access for the chickens but not the goats. Good luck, though. Goats are very determined when they want to eat something.

Ok now that should solve the goat problem I'll wait for a few more replys on the chickens not going in coop problem. But while I am waiting for more I'll try some of the current suggestions. They all are great replys. Thanks so much! Your all very helpful!