Do chickens need food outside?

[rosemarythyme]

I will make sure to mention that to him

But if they really can't manage it, better to put them through the human door than leave them outside of course.

 

[ChickenDude12345]

But if they really can't manage it, better to put them through the human door than leave them outside of course.

Yes, I just put them in and they are really starting to explore and perch on the ramp and occasionally one will go just inside the door but quickly come out to join the rest of the flock but like they are getting there

 

[ThaliaGrace]

Yeah I just thought if I put food and water out there they might get used to staying in the run rather than the coop

I have always kept the food and water outside of the coop, and at nighttime they put themselves to bed, they like being safe. I doubt that they would stay out of the coop at nighttime, because of the food and water being out there.

 

[ChickenDude12345]

I have always kept the food and water outside of the coop, and at nighttime they put themselves to bed, they like being safe. I doubt that they would stay out of the coop at nighttime, because of the food and water being out there.

Ok

 

[3KillerBs]

And I have just now, once AGAIN, herded the splits into their coop for the night. They are determined to roost out under the starts on top of a straw bale or a pallet.

I am more determined that they will learn to go into their coop.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I keep feed and water in my raised coops.

They are rodent proof when I close the pop door after sunset.
I also have water, Oyster Shells and Poultry Grit in their pen.

My pens are not rodent proof or songbird proof, so I don't give them feed in their pens. I do scatter Scratch Grains in their pen daily as a treat. GC

 

[ChickenDude12345]

And I have just now, once AGAIN, herded the splits into their coop for the night. They are determined to roost out under the starts on top of a straw bale or a pallet.

I am more determined that they will learn to go into their coop.

Lol

 

[Charlenesmom]

So how would I get them to go in the coop tonight or any night. Should I just keep bringing them in at night until they get it?

Buy some mealworms, or dried black fly larva…
I but it from a company called Grublies, they are grown in the USA, not China like most of the others.
put them in an empty plastic container, like and old spice or sugar container. Shake the shaker, call them, give them some wormies…..walk away, continue shaking, they will follow you….treat them again, continue walking away and walk into the run….they will follow you right in. Do this every night, or any other time you want them back in the run…they will come running like clockwork!
I have 5 hens and I buy the 5lb bag every 3 months or so.
my first purchase I got the 5lb bin.
https://grubblyfarms.com/products/grubblies

 

[Jdleppo]

Chickens naturally go sleep in the same place every night.

Since they've been in the coop for 3 days already, they may just go in by themselves.

If they do not go in, then yes you can put them in each night until they get it.

Or you can put some extra-tasty treat in the coop during the afternoon, and shut them in. That way they will be in the right place to put themselves to bed.

(For an "extra-tasty treat," I have good results with wet chicken food. It's just water added to the usual pellets or crumbles, but the chickens usually go crazy for it. After a few days, they learn to recognize the bowl I use to serve it, and will follow wherever I carry the bowl.)

Chickens are really smart and easy to train, even easier than dogs. When our chicks were big enough to barely climb up or down to the coop from the run, we helped them up and down to the coop at dusk to show them what to do. We only had to do that two nights. That was 4 years ago, and they all go back into the coop at dusk on their own without any coaxing.
We let them out of the run into our yard around 3:30 (after the hawks stop hunting), to have a larger area to run and to dig for worms and fun stuff. Promptly at dusk, they all head back to the run and up into the coop, then we lock the run up to keep them safe for the night. Early in the morning they come out on their own to the run. We never feed them in the coop, only in the run. But we do keep water out in the yard for when they are out of the run.

 

[CLou]

Chickens have a natural tendency to seek shelter at night. If they've been spending their nights in the coop already, they're most likely going to find their way to and INTO the coop as dusk approaches.

As for food and water, we don't put them inside the coop with one exception: new chicks that are old enough to be out of the brooder, but still not wise enough to eat and drink what they want/need for overnight. After a couple of weeks watching the adults eat and drink at the feed/water stations on the way in, they learn to do the same.

Worse, you invite things into the coop that you'd rather NEVER have in the coop...

I was having a problem with my chickens (now two months old) returning to the coop after free-ranging all day. They decided to roost in the trees outside the coop rather than go inside. They had access to the food that was inside the coop all day. I decided to remove the food when I let them out and return it to the coop in the late afternoon and they all went inside for food. Success. Or is it? This means they have to forage for 10 hours without grains all day. Today it is pouring rain and I let them out but left the food in the coop believing they wouldn't be able to forage in the rain. We shall see if they return to the coop tonight. Hopefully, they will. Chasing chickens in the semi-dark is no fun.