Coop living

[erinc]

Today we moved our chickens out to their coop. We are a little worried they will not go into the roost tonight. Will they be okay if the don't? What should we do if they don't get it?

 

[Folly's place]

As long as they are in a safe coop, don't worry about the roosts. They will eventually figure out what they are for, but may huddle on the floor at first. Mary

 

[nikolairapunzel]

What do you mean by the roost? Do you mean up on the roost? Mine slept in a little bundle in a corner the first few nights. After that they got on the roost themselves.

 

[azygous]

I'm guessing the OP means "going into the coop at night".

My chicks turn four weeks old today. They have been sleeping in the coop for almost a week, but they are still too young to understand that they need to go in at night, and I believe they would be happy to huddle out in the run all night if I didn't get them into the coop.

It's very easy to teach chicks to go into the coop. I just get inside with meal worms and call them in. But once inside, and after indulging in their treats, they would scoot right back out into the run if I didn't close the pop door to the coop.

By the time chicks are five weeks old, they are generally old enough to understand that going inside under cover is the best place to sleep, and they will put themselves in after a few nights of being shown how to go in.

Roosting is another issue. Mine are showing signs of being ready to learn to roost. Tonight I will spend a little time with them, placing them on the perch. I've found that placing them very close together at the far end of a perch will give them the security and closeness they crave, and they are more likely to remain on the perch. The darker it is, the more likely they will remain after you place them there.

But chicks are all different. Some learn quickly, others not so much.

 

[erinc]

Like going into their little house.

 

[erinc]

I'm guessing the OP means "going into the coop at night".

My chicks turn four weeks old today. They have been sleeping in the coop for almost a week, but they are still too young to understand that they need to go in at night, and I believe they would be happy to huddle out in the run all night if I didn't get them into the coop.

It's very easy to teach chicks to go into the coop. I just get inside with meal worms and call them in. But once inside, and after indulging in their treats, they would scoot right back out into the run if I didn't close the pop door to the coop.

By the time chicks are five weeks old, they are generally old enough to understand that going inside under cover is the best place to sleep, and they will put themselves in after a few nights of being shown how to go in.

Roosting is another issue. Mine are showing signs of being ready to learn to roost. Tonight I will spend a little time with them, placing them on the perch. I've found that placing them very close together at the far end of a perch will give them the security and closeness they crave, and they are more likely to remain on the perch. The darker it is, the more likely they will remain after you place them there.

But chicks are all different. Some learn quickly, others not so much.

We have a chicken coop. They are in now. It is open but there is an I closed part with a ramp leading up to it for them to sleep in at night. I don't know how to get them to go in there

 

[azygous]

If it's impossible for you to get inside the coop yourself, then you will need to gently put the chicks inside. They will eventually learn to do it on their own after you show them what they need to do.