Chickens won't sleep in chicken tractor

[polishserb]

Built a new chicken tractor and pit chicks in two days ago. They will not sleep in the coop section. They huddle up on the ground in one corner. Is this normal? When will they start going up to coop area to sleep? Any suggestions/comments appreciated. A little worries about them.

 

[Jaxemae]

I think I read that you might have to "show" them how to get in at night for a couple nights til they get the hang of it..

 

[lovingchicks]

I had the same problem when I moved my chickens to there new coop/run. I put them in the coop myself at night for the first 2 nights and closed the door so they had to stay in there and then let them out in the morning. The 3rd night I went out and they were all in there already

. I think they just needed sometime to get use to the new "home"..... Hope this helps

 

[polishserb]

That might be a problem. My awesome engineering skills did not take into account having to walk inside of it. I can get into the coop/nesting boxes/feeders, but cannot get to coop opening from inside. Uh oh!

 

[polishserb]

They walk up the ladder during the day. Sometimes they go inside during the day. Not sure if that matters or not.

 

[lovingchicks]

Dang about the design!.. mine went in and out of the coop all day too but still tried to sleep in the run. But surely they will figure it out.. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[polishserb]

Thanks. Appreciate the help. I'll keep you posted.

 

[polishserb]

Had rain last night and they still are not sleeping in their coop. Don't get it

 

[khoe]

Definitely are gonna have to figure out how to teach em to go in. Bait em with some treats through the box and hope they stay put?

 

[polishserb]

Had a down pour last night and those silly chicks still won't go in the coop section. They go in and out during the day but not at night. I'm lost. Anybody got any ideas? I'm still hoping they will figure it out. At this point I'm hoping by winter!