Chickens refuse to use coop

[Tomcoll67]

I need to know how to get my chicks to use their coop at night. They just went outside last week and they sleep under their coop, even when I place them into the coop. I cannot keep them in the coop on a 24x7 basis to "train them" as it is getting too hot here for that. I think I might do this in September, but wonder if it is to late then.
I also am wondering if I should purchase a green house to cover them for the winter.Sorry if the second question does not belong here.
I have 10 chickens 8 weeks old in a 10'x5' run with elevated house that is rated for that amount. I am just concerned that they are going to freeze come winter.
Thank you

 

[Kazfam]

Well, I would make it impossible for them to go under the coop...block it off.
And...do you have a door on the coop? That will keep them in and it is believed doing this for a day will train them to use the coop.

Normally they will go into the coop as soon as it gets dark...is it easy to access?

Give the no other option but the coop when it's time to go night-night.

 

[luvh3ns]

Perhaps under the coop seems like the more obvious place to go than into the coop. Are they going from a run into the coop or from free-ranging into the coop?

Perhaps you could put some chicken wire around the bottom perimeter of your coop. This would help keep out predators and rats too!

 

[iwiw60]

You say you have a 10' x 5' run...how big is the coop itself? For 10 soon-to-be-grown hens the coop itself might be too small...let us know and we can help further!

 

[Elenor13]

I am having the same problem with my 2 month old chicks. I tried putting a light in the coop so when it gets dark they would see it and go up the ramp. However, this does not seem to be working with them, even though it worked with my first batch of chicks. I understand your frustration with putting them in every night!

 

[Peeps61]

I used a light in my coop and made sure it was DARK outside of the coop - no outside lights or ambient light other than the moon. It worked like a charm and about 50% of the chicks went into the coop the first night, with the rest slowly following suit until all of them were doing it every night. It just takes them a little while to figure it out. I would not block off the underside of the coop. I had the same set up, and I just let them sleep outside if they chose to. That way, if it rained, they had shelter. It took about a week and a half for them to get used to going into the coop and roosting at night.