chicks will not go in coop

[richbrad08]

Hi. For some odd reason my chicks rather camp outside and not inside there coop. this has been going on for about 3 weeks now. I have a light in there for them because i figured that was the problem. i am abouit to start bribing them with meal worms. the chicks are atleast 8 weeks old and the other 3 are 3 weeks. i think my coop run is to steep because when the leave it in the morning its like chicken slide

 

[Chickmagnet36]

Make sure that the roost inside the coop is the highest spot for them to roost on. If there is anything higher than the roost bar, they will perch on that instead. It is instinct for them to roost as high up as possible. Two of mine were sleeping on an outside roost (even in the rain) because it was higher than the roost bar in my coop. Since I took out the higher outside roost, all is well...

 

[Camelot Farm]

Hi there...
Just went thru the same thing with 18 birds.... didn't want to leave them out at nite... so it was like a Rocky movie each nite running after the chicks and putting them in the coop. It took about a week and a half and they all started marching in each nite at dusk, BUT only if the light is one. I can say I sure got a lot of good exercise!!!

Regards,
Cindy

 

[richbrad08]

i did what u told me about the roost. the roost is high in the coop i donrt think they can reach it just yet. so i put them there they seem kinda shock but went back in the nest box to go to sleep. DO i scare them in the coop? or be gentle about it.