Chickens Won't Coop Up At Night

[Jilly1425]

Hi There -

I have 6 chickens - 4 are juveniles and 2 are 1 year old hens. The adults don't like to go in the coop at night. Instead, they roost on the railing of my deck. Is there a way to train them to go into their house at night?

I used to feed them in there at dusk, but it doesn't seem to have stuck...

 

[dai2dao996]

Hi There -

I have 6 chickens - 4 are juveniles and 2 are 1 year old hens. The adults don't like to go in the coop at night. Instead, they roost on the railing of my deck. Is there a way to train them to go into their house at night?

I used to feed them in there at dusk, but it doesn't seem to have stuck...

Put treats in there. Like scratch or something they like at bed time.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Keep them all in the coop for a few days full time. After that, you shouldn't have as many problems. How old are your adults? You might need to keep them in longer if they are several years old because the old ones are often harder to train.

 

[dai2dao996]

Keep them all in the coop for a few days full time. After that, you shouldn't have as many problems. How old are your adults? You might need to keep them in longer if they are several years old because the old ones are often harder to train.

Yes. This is a good idea.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I wouldn't recommend scratch in the summertime, as it is supposed to raise the body temp of the birds. However, treats is not a bad idea, mine like a mix of peas, oats, and raisins.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Yes. This is a good idea.

Thanks! It's the method I've used for years.

 

[dai2dao996]

Thanks! It's the method I've used for years.

They are such creatures of habit.

 

[dai2dao996]

I wouldn't recommend scratch in the summertime, as it is supposed to raise the body temp of the birds. However, treats is not a bad idea, mine like a mix of peas, oats, and raisins.

It's not alot, just enough to attract them. Mine actually love worms and egg yolks also for treats.

 

[maryn7]

Instead, they roost on the railing of my deck.

My exact problem.

We did a lock in as chicks, which worked great and they cooped for weeks on their own. But when our nighttime temps were in the high 70s for a week, they moved to the back porch and really resisted the coop. We installed a dual intake/exhaust fan, which has lowered the coop temps and keeps the air moving, but they now seek out the porch each night. We have now got them back to at least putting themselves away if we walk back to the coop with them at dusk, but nothing is as fun as the cool-but-completely-not-safe-sleeping-area of the deck.

It's too hot for us to do a second lock in at this point in the summer, so we've resigned ourselves to slowly helping them get the idea again that the coop is for roosty time. As soon as we get them back there, they pop right in like a light clicks on in their tiny brains.

I'd recommend checking your coop temp as a starting point to ensure it's an attractive sleeping place. If it's cool enough, I'd recommend a lock in for them.

Let me know if you find a solution! The automatic door we bought is less of a good value by the day.....

 

[aart]

Hi There -I have 6 chickens - 4 are juveniles and 2 are 1 year old hens. The adults don't like to go in the coop at night. Instead, they roost on the railing of my deck. Is there a way to train them to go into their house at night?
I used to feed them in there at dusk, but it doesn't seem to have stuck...

Have they ever gone into the coop at night?
Or did this maybe start when you added the juveniles?
How old are the newbies and how long have you had them?
Dimensions and pics of your coop, inside and out, may offer some clues.

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Jilly1425
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