coop question

[audrey02026]

Hello, I have had my birds out in the coop for several days and every night I have to go out and put them inside the coop from the run. Will they ever just go indoors by themselves at night? They do go in and out by themselves all the time during he day but i have to pick them up and put them away for the night. I usually do this about 7:30 at night....should I wait longer and see if they go inside? Also I have their food and water in the run should it go there or inside the coop?

Thank you for any help.

 

[Capvin]

Just put a small light inside the coop so they can see the light from the outside. Wait until it gets a bit dark and if they have not gone in on their own go out and put them in. You may need to do this several times but they will catch on an go in by themselves. It took mine about four nights before they put themselves to bed. Now they go in like clockwork when it gets dark.

 

[audrey02026]

So I waited tonight and its pretty dark here. So I went outside to make sure they were ok and they were in the coop....YEAH!!!!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Little moments like this make our day!! That's why were all chicken nerds

 

[audrey02026]

I know right

 

[Capvin]

Now you will feel sad that the babies don't need you anymore and can put themselves to bed. That's what happened with us

 

[audrey02026]

I suppose you are right when the excitement wears off I may be bummed.....Time to buy more, Ha ha ha

 

[Jake1297]

As for feed and water, I have all their food and water in the coop. With the exception of a tub of water near the hand pump, that's their only water outside, unless it rains of course.

 

[hennypenny99]

It's so true about the light. Mine are so silly. If I don't have the light on in their coop they won't go inside. I have gone outside when it is 9:30 and completely dark and they are all piled up in a corner in their run. I turn the light on and they all go in. Now if I keep the light on they go to bed on their own.