Chicks scared of coop?

[JoJoM]

I moved my 5 week old chicks out to the coop with my 8 weeks olds a few days ago. They’ve been doing alright together, a few chases but nothing major and I’ve kept them inside. They sort of keep to their own ‘hatch mates’. Today I let them out in the run (uncovered, just a temp fence since they’ll eventually free range) for a while and they loved it. I saw that they were in and out of the coop a bit and I decided to get them in around 7 and they were kind of freaking out. I’m not sure if something in the coop spooked them but they did not want to go back in. When I did get them all in there, the little ones were all scrambling and piling on top of each other at the chicken door trying to get out. It was pretty awful. I did put a small coop camera up while they were out but it was up high and pretty small. Could they have noticed? Anyone have any advice? I’m going to leave them all in for longer, I probably should have waited longer before I let them out

 

[CluckerFamily]

I normally keep the new ones in the coop for at least two weeks.
Chickens don’t like change. It could’ve been anything that scared them.

 

[aart]

Chicks can have a hard time learning to go back into the coop at dusk,
even when they have been in the coop for weeks.
Any chance the older birds are keeping them from going in?

 

[JoJoM]

Chicks can have a hard time learning to go back into the coop at dusk,
even when they have been in the coop for weeks.
Any chance the older birds are keeping them from going in?

I don’t think it was the older ones, they were still outside and not near the yard. I’m going to try leaving them in for at least a week, all together and then I’ll try again. I have 8 more pullets to introduce in a few weeks so then everything will be upset again!

 

[aart]

I have 8 more pullets to introduce in a few weeks so then everything will be upset again!

OhBoy.....I've done 3 age groups before, tho one was adults, never again...Have Fun!

 

[jonalisa]

It's a good idea, when transitioning chicks to their coop, that they be confined to the coop for the first 2 weeks. This ensures that they know it's is home and that they voluntarily return to the coop at dusk.