Chicks will not go in coop?!?

[Macadoow]

Spent good time and money building a coop with automatic door for my chickens and they refuse to go inside. Its plenty big. 5x8 for 4 chickens with a 12x12 yard. They will go under it to sleep but never in it. Granted they have only been in there for just under 2 weeks, but how can I get them to take to going inside. The door is about 13x13 and about 15 inches of the ground.

 

[Doc7]

Lock them in the coop for a few days 24/7 so they get used to sleeping in it.

My 3 week old chicks just had their first test, the first night they’ve been allowed to stay in the run until after dark and they all “cooped” themselves. I think it was easy because they were forced to sleep in it for 3 weeks (never leaving it except short excursions until the last 3 days)

 

[mountain chicken]

if its dark in there put a small light in it till they get used to it
how old are they by the way

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Just pick them up and put them in when it gets dark, then close the door. I don't think you have to lock them inside the coop, just put them all in when it gets dark and close the door

 

[domikin]

Mine like to go under the coop as well

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Mine like to go under the coop as well

so did mine, until they got too big to fit under the coop LOL. Chickens are so cute...

 

[Macadoow]

They are 3-4 months old. Never thought about the light. Issue with locking them in there is we live in central Texas where temps are high. Don't want them to get too hot. Will have to do a little better job of venting for day use and put forced air in to keep them cool. I can put a small low watt light in there so it doesn't add to the heat. The first day or two they used it and I found d 2 roosting in the rafters

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

They are 3-4 months old. Never thought about the light. Issue with locking them in there is we live in central Texas where temps are high. Don't want them to get too hot. Will have to do a little better job of venting for day use and put forced air in to keep them cool. I can put a small low watt light in there so it doesn't add to the heat. The first day or two they used it and I found d 2 roosting in the rafters

About the roosting in the rafters bit; chickens will always sleep in the highest place possible. I once had nesting boxes higher then the roost, and all my chickens slept in the nesting boxes no matter how much I tried to discourage them. I just had to take down the nesting boxes to the floor. Anyways, if they can, they will be sleeping in the rafters a lot

 

[GreatGranny]

We had the very same problem and after a few days of corralling 28 chickens, my hubby had the bright idea to just train the roo, Poli, to sleep in the coop! Poli seemed to be leading the hens and keeping them calm and in order, so he should be able to get them in the coop at night! Worked like a charm, and he still checks for stragglers every evening! He is the first one in and crows at the top of the ramp! Then he comes back out after everyone is in to check the yard one last time! He is also the last one in.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

We had the very same problem and after a few days of corralling 28 chickens, my hubby had the bright idea to just train the roo, Poli, to sleep in the coop! Poli seemed to be leading the hens and keeping them calm and in order, so he should be able to get them in the coop at night! Worked like a charm, and he still checks for stragglers every evening! He is the first one in and crows at the top of the ramp! Then he comes back out after everyone is in to check the yard one last time! He is also the last one in.

Sounds like you've got a good rooster there!