chickens refuse to go in coop

Yes, there are several techniques you can use to get your chickens to roost inside to coop.
Here are a few:

Lock them all in the coop for a week or two and dont let them in the run where the outside roosts are, at all. They will roost inside and get used to it. Ive found this to work well but it isnt practical if the coop is really small or if the weather is really hot, and, of course, you have to move a feeder and waterer inside.

Or: Turn on a light inside the coop. The chickens may be attracted to going inside at dusk rather than staying outside in the dark. Ive had only marginal success with this.

Or: Physically move them from their outside roosts to their inside roosts well after dark each night until they get the idea and shut the coop door until morning. Ive had pretty good success with this if I move them every night for about a week.

Or: Or just remove their outside roosts and block any other spots they can roost on outside. If they then try to roost on the ground or feeders outside, just move them to the inside roosts well after dark and they should get the idea. As long as you have outside roosts, you may have some birds that prefer to roost out there.

 

I would do both of the last 2 items mentioned on the last post. Even if you get them to roost in the coop by closing off the door to the run every night for a week or two, there will always be the occasional bird who chooses to go out to the alternative roost once you finally leave it open again. (usually a low-on-the-peck-order bird who does not want to experience the jostling and bullying that goes on when they compete for roosting spot in the evening).

So, remove the old roost and put birds in coop every night for a week or two, and close the door to the run at night during those 1-2 wks.

 

I had to bribe my three for a short time after we got their night pen fixed up... Then they started going in at dusk... Now if I want them in early I have to bribe with treats. They go gaga over strawberries and or black oil sunflower seeds.. Oh they also like cantalope seeds.. and watermelon seeds..

 

Thank you for this question. I was trying to be stubborn and wait them out. I have a light in my coop and actually, they were roosting fine until about 2-3 weeks after I put it in. IT'S 23 degrees out! Yet there they stand. Very frustrating. I will take some of this advice (like the treats inside and closing them in). I'm going to start by getting them in, closing their coop door and follow this for a week. Such a waste when they have this huge yard but... oh well. Keep me posted on how it's working for you by trial and error would you? Thanks everyone.