Chicks (17 weeks) sleeping in run, not coop

[Shadrach]

It is normally the mother of the chicks that introduces them to the flock and teaches the chicks to go into the coop. The existing hens as I understand it are not the chicks mothers (?)
While newly introduced hens or pullets will often get along in a run, the coop is the space of the existing hens and any new additions are essentially intruders.
You need to take the place of the mother and do the introduction.
There are a couple of things that may help.
If you do not have more than one roost bar then the addition of another roost bar will help. Make this second roost bar noticeably lower than the roost bar of the existing hens and place it out of pecking reach of the existing hens as they sit on their bar. This will be your pullets roost bar.
The usual order for roosting is rooster first in, then hens and often it is by seniority; oldest/most dominant hen gets first pick of position.
At roosting time let the hens get settled on their roost. If one sits on the new/pullet roost bar take her off and put her on the higher bar. When the pullets first so signs of wanting to roost, that is the time to place them on the new pullet roost bar. If you leave it until they've taken up roosting positions in the run, it gets more difficult.
If the pullets go to roost before the hens then for a few nights you may have to encourage your hens in early.

 

[Al Capon]

Mine originally didn't want anything to do with the roost box. I think it was because the roost box was dark and they weren't going into a dark environment, might be a T-rex hiding in there or something.

I wired up a small wattage light bulb and turned it on an hr before dusk. As it got dark, they were drawn to the bulb and had no problem going up to roost. Then an hr. after dark, I turned out the bulb. I did this for less than a week and they got the hang of it, realized there was no danger lurking in the dark box..

 

[aart]

The new birds were added in July when they were 10 weeks or so.

They may work their way in eventually, especially once they start laying....or you could 'force' the issue by removing their roost in the run and/or putting them in the coop after dark.

 

[pigcoon]

I like the idea, Al Capon, of trying the light before forcing them. Great suggestions everyone. This would have made more sense if the old girls were still beating up on them, but things are peaceable.

There is a high and low roost in the coop and the old girls naturally go on the high one, so that is good advice to put the new girls on the low one. They're still kind of slim so they'll fit there.

And to the pp who suggested there wasn't enough space, I do think we are ok. It's only the coop that is small, it opens out to a run that is 14X20 or so

 

[FnWeirdo]

id recommend getting a metal coffee can with feed or some treats in it. i train my girls for everything with this. i locked my chicks in for 2 days when i put them in the coop, then when i let them out for the first few days i shake the can by the coop toss a little feed or a treat, once i got them following the trail i threw a bit in the chicken door and locked it behind them. now they recognize the can and come whenever i shake and follow wherever i lead them. works for me

 

[pigcoon]

Interesting, thanks for sharing that!! Always learning....

 

[3riverschick]

do you have a closed window in the coop? I noticed my birds went in more readily when there was a light in the coop for them to see when it got dark. But I didn't want an electric light on.
So I went to Lowes and bought a nice 15-25 watt solar light by Portofino which will screw to the side of the coop outside the window. It comes on at twilight and shines a bit of light for the birds thru the window. Worked right on thru the winter. Just enough light to encourage them to come in … and to keep them from being scared if they heard scary noises at night.
Best,
Karen in western PA

 

[FnWeirdo]

do you have a closed window in the coop? I noticed my birds went in more readily when there was a light in the coop for them to see when it got dark. But I didn't want an electric light on.
So I went to Lowes and bought a nice 15-25 watt solar light by Portofino which will screw to the side of the coop outside the window. It comes on at twilight and shines a bit of light for the birds thru the window. Worked right on thru the winter. Just enough light to encourage them to come in … and to keep them from being scared if they heard scary noises at night.
Best,
Karen in western PA

you could also buy a 5 $ stick on light you could turn on shortly before dark

 

[3riverschick]

yes, I just used the solar one so I didn't have to go out and turn it off. often I am busy with chores at twilight.

 

[pigcoon]

The light is what I am going to try first. I have to get to the store to pick something up. I'll let you know how it goes!