Chickens not sleeping in House

[tomroyall]

I am new to keeing chickens! We bought a run for our chickens when they were chicks and they slept in their house! they out grew it so we bought a bigger House and plan to have them free range and lock them up at night I put a tempary run up just so they got familiar to their new home but they are not sleeping in it for the last 4 nights they have slept out side. I'm concerned please help advise gratefully recieved!

 

[rungirl]

Put a light inside. They'll come in when it gets dark.

 

[tomroyall]

Thanks any other advise for a newbie!

 

[Keltara]

The light should do it. If not, then as it begins to get dark, go out and put them in the coop. After a few nights, they'll get the idea. They don't know where their home is anymore (even if it's right in front of them). They need help finding it.

Good luck!

 

[wava1vaughn]

Hi from Ga. It won't take long for them to get used to it.

 

[bloom_ss]

I am having the same problem with mine. They have been in their coop since the weekend of July 4th and they STILL don't go in the coop by themselves. They all huddle by the door of the run and "call" for me to come help them...even with a light on in the coop.

I don't really want to keep using the light every night, but if I put them in the coop with the light off they all just pile back out the pop door after I put them in. If I turn the light on before I put them in they stay in.

 

[Saltysteele]

shut them in it at night. after a couple times, they'll get the drift.

 

[1Rooster]

Quote:
yes they will get the idea if you put them in and lock them in a couple of nights.
do you have roosts for them? if you don't they do need them.. then when you have them locked in go out a little
later and turn the light off.

I have 18 that I let free range for about 4 to 5 hrs and everyone of them go back to coop on their on and onto roost.