Chickens won't go in coop at night!!!

[rosemarythyme]

Do they have to go in at night? Mine have only been in their coop a couple weeks, and I'm leaving their windows open since it's at least 60 at night. Tonight they all went in on their own but once it gets hot they'll need as much ventilation as they can get, so I figured I wouldn't lock then in....

Depends on how confident you are in your run's security. The point of a coop is to provide shelter from the elements and security from predators... if your run provides both of those things, really don't need to have an enclosed coop at all.

 

[Cjblakeman]

So we are adding two New chicks to the flock. Right now they have their own little enclosure right next to the main coop. These two chicks don't go in at night. Now I have read all the suggestions, and I will try them, but my question is this: do I train them to go into their own little enclosure, or do I wait until the are ready to go into the main coop and train them then?

 

[rosemarythyme]

do I train them to go into their own little enclosure, or do I wait until the are ready to go into the main coop and train them then?

Up to you - and your confidence in the security of their little run.

My chicks will return to their brooder at night while it is available to them. Once I want them to start moving to the coop, I close the brooder and manually move them to the coop at nights. At some point they'll realize that's where they need to go at night and take themselves in.

 

[Nova Scotia Homestead]

So i put my ladies outside last Friday. Ever since then I have to put them in the coop at night. I went out last night at 830 at night and they are all huddled up with each other in the corner of the run. They have no probs coming out of the coop when i open it. Any suggestions would be great!!!!!!

This makes me laugh because my girls did this to me for the first while when I brought them home a couple months ago. And they were 18 weeks old. They did the exact same thing for a couple weeks. They would huddle together....right near the door to their coop, even though the door was RIGHT THERE , with all the warm HAY. And I had to wake them up and use my broom to gentle tell them where to go and throw seeds in that direction as well. . one thing I also tried....I put a light in their coop. This actually worked.....when it got dark outside....they wanted to be near the light....even though they just went to sleep. And this has worked great and is still working. . And I would close the coop and turn off the light. Now the issue I'm having..... They stay up late first of all. Like 10-10:30 pm sometimes.... Past dark..... Bit If I leave them be....they will go into the coop just liked I trained them too(I still use the light, and turn it off when it's time for me to close the coop.)

 

[Nova Scotia Homestead]

So we are adding two New chicks to the flock. Right now they have their own little enclosure right next to the main coop. These two chicks don't go in at night. Now I have read all the suggestions, and I will try them, but my question is this: do I train them to go into their own little enclosure, or do I wait until the are ready to go into the main coop and train them then?

Does your main coop already have birds in it?

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Wow! I feel for you guys a lot! I was worried about mine when they get older and I live in Mississippi. I know that’s a joke! We have just had a cold Spring here which usually means a weird hurricane season a bad one and a cold or early winter. I know to you all that won’t have much significance but to us who aren’t used to it ...it really hits hard. I’m brand new to having chickens and have been worried more in their purchase first about their heat tolerance and then second about the winter or storm tolerance regarding thunderstorms and wind because we get a great deal of those and tornadoes.
I hope you all get your issues with your ladies going into their coops at night resolved. Everything I have read says to place them into their coops locked up for 24!to 48 hours at least for them to learn that the coop is their new home and then they should want to go back into it at night. I do also agree with one thing and that is my 12 day old chicks are afraid of the dark. They cry out and kick up a fuss when I turn the lights completely out or off in the room I have them in inside my house. They do not like that one single bit.
Good luck and have a great day in the coop and out for sure!
Pam

 

[Cjblakeman]

Does your main coop already have birds in it?

Yes, but they are still getting used to the new ones, and whenever they are in a space together, the chicks are either chased out or pecked into a corner, so I'm taking my time to put them together at night. They are outside in the yard all day.

 

[Nova Scotia Homestead]

Yes, but they are still getting used to the new ones, and whenever they are in a space together, the chicks are either chased out or pecked into a corner, so I'm taking my time to put them together at night. They are outside in the yard all day.

If they aren't integrated into the rest of the flock yet....then yes you need to give them their own warm enclosure. This is normal and it's common protocol. Don't wait until later to train them. Or it might be more difficult. Train them now to go into their own enclosure. They need a nice quiet warm place where they feel safe at night. but again you have to show them that it's their safe place. They might not looked stressed from sleeping outside...but it really can cause stress over time. It doesn't need to be fancy. It's just temporary....usually for a few weeks. Sometimes even a little longer in some cases. When they have finally become apart of the flock then just take away their temporary enclosure or cut off it's access. And see to it that they start going into the main coop with the rest of the flock.. They may do it on their own...... But you might need to train them again. It doesn't take them too long to learn, especially when they see the other birds doing it. Your doing the right thing by taking care to go slow. Chicks can die in the pecking order sometimes. It's common. Make sure they are strong enough to defend themselves before you leave them alone with the bigger girls. Sorry for getting off topic. Let me know if there's anything else I might be able to help with. And give us an update to let us know how it goes with the chicks

 

[Cjblakeman]

That sounds good. They are in an upside down rabbit hutch at night which they could go into by themselves, but they just don't. I always make sure they get in, though.

 

[Nova Scotia Homestead]

That sounds good. They are in an upside down rabbit hutch at night which they could go into by themselves, but they just don't. I always make sure they get in,

That sounds good. They are in an upside down rabbit hutch at night which they could go into by themselves, but they just don't. I always make sure they get in, though.

Have you tried the light? If you have no electricity as an option..
.just grab a light from the dollar store. One of those round click lights with batteries...or even a flash light would probably work. I left the light on All night for the first while of training my birds. Now...I still use the light....but now I turn it out just after they go into the coop. It works out to give them 12 hours of light which is recommended for laying eggs anyways. But my goal wasn't the eggs lol my goal was just to make them go in the coop.