Chicks won't come in on their own at night

[hoosierhens101]

Weather got really nice so we have been letting our 4 1/2 week old chicks into their outdoor run. They love it. They are in and out all day long. We herded them in at last light the first night. Last night we let it get dark and had a light in inside so they could find their way in. We found them huddled in a pile outside and had to pick them up and put them in. Will they learn to go in on their own? I thought it was kinda a natural instinct.

 

[azygous]

No, it's not a natural instinct to know to go inside a coop when night comes. It needs to be learned. Usually a broody hen will lead her chicks in when dusk comes, and she will teach them to roost beside her. Brooder raised chicks need to be taught by YOU.

Keep doing what you've begun. Your chicks will soon catch on. The light definitely helps. And getting inside the coop and encouraging the chicks to come inside might make the lesson easier to learn.

 

[BabasCoop]

U just have to keep waiting until dusk, then go out and put them to bed if they don’t do it on their own.
Our chicks have been outside for a week today, and last night was the first night that they went in on their own before I came out to do it.

 

[hoosierhens101]

No, it's not a natural instinct to know to go inside a coop when night comes. It needs to be learned. Usually a broody hen will lead her chicks in when dusk comes, and she will teach them to roost beside her. Brooder raised chicks need to be taught by YOU.

Keep doing what you've begun. Your chicks will soon catch on. The light definitely helps. And getting inside the coop and encouraging the chicks to come inside might make the lesson easier to learn.

Thank you. I had no idea.

 

[hoosierhens101]

U just have to keep waiting until dusk, then go out and put them to bed if they don’t do it on their own.
Our chicks have been outside for a week today, and last night was the first night that they went in on their own before I came out to do it.

Thank you

 

[Pounddogsrock]

No, it's not a natural instinct to know to go inside a coop when night comes. It needs to be learned. Usually a broody hen will lead her chicks in when dusk comes, and she will teach them to roost beside her. Brooder raised chicks need to be taught by YOU.

Keep doing what you've begun. Your chicks will soon catch on. The light definitely helps. And getting inside the coop and encouraging the chicks to come inside might make the lesson easier to learn.

I also use bulbs that are “red”. I’ve heard from folks that white light is not as calming as red. I used “white” for many years before I heard this.

 

[NewBoots]

Keep doing what you've begun. Your chicks will soon catch on. The light definitely helps. And getting inside the coop and encouraging the chicks to come inside might make the lesson easier to learn.

When our youngest chicks were still learning to come in at night or in bad weather, I'd go into the coop and call them in and give them a treat. They learn pretty quickly.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you have enough space in the coop to safely do so, and it's not too hot, lock them in the coop for a few days with food and water, and that will home them to the coop.

 

[azygous]

If you have enough space in the coop to safely do so, and it's not too hot, lock them in the coop for a few days with food and water, and that will home them to the coop.

I'm curious if you've tried this with chicks this age. It's been my experience that chicks may be familiar with the inside of the coop, but when they are out in the run, the coop doesn't look the same to them, but alien.

Chicks just haven't developed those advanced thought processes yet. They need physically to be put through the coop pop hole repetatively to make the cognitive connection unless they've been brave enough to explore the coop on their own. Even then, I haven't had any chicks of mine make the connection that it's where they should sleep at night unless they're taught.

 

[50-45-1]

Does your coop have a ramp?
Ramps take a while to learn. They go down but later dont rember how to get back up.
If your light is white and that is what is familiar to them, no need to go buy a red one.
The red light is to avoid picking problems if they develop.
just keep putting them in. It wont be long and they will get the hang of it.