Chickens stay out after dark.

[Haficon]

Thanks everyone, so they are not free ranging they have a 16x16 fenced area attached to the coop. The roof is ventilated and the rear of the coop not pictured is ventilated. They have bleeding in the coop, their water and food is kept in the coop that have unlimited access to it anytime. Should I limit it? I normally keep it fully of food and leave it in the deck so they eat as they want. As for lighting I have heat lamps in there for heat until they got old enough to not need it. However even with the lamp on they still would stay out past dark. As for natural lighting it is just was cones in the vents. I intend to add windows but currently out of state for a bit and my wife is handling them.

James

 

[Mrs. K]

Personally, I only feed enough for the day, I think feed 24/7 draws rodents.

 

[TheRealWitwiki]

I have a light in my coop that is on a timer to come on a little before I open the door to the run and a little after the chickens come in for the night. Chickens can't see that well when it's dark so if they see a light at the coop opening they will come in. I trained my chickens when they were young by letting them free range about 30 min before dark and they always came to the light.

 

[Col1948]

I suppose I'm lucky, mine make their own way in, sometimes I have been busy with something and it has got dark, when I go to the coop they are all on the roost.
I have one that is always last in, she hangs about near the door of the coop, sometimes she starts to wonder off then turns back, eventually she goes in.
She reminds of a kid when the mum shouts them to come in and the kids says, "Aw just five more minutes."

 

[chrissynemetz]

25 chickens in a 6×8 coop is actually kinda cramped. How many roosts do you have?