Do they have to go into the coop at night?

[Emily Young]

My chickens go into their coop by themselves once it starts to get dark. It took a little while for the younger chickens to learn, but they quickly caught on. We don't manually try to put the chickens in the coop because it's impossible, they'll just slip right out. They know when to go in. We built a coop with a slanted roof and a standing door, along with a small extension and a small swinging chicken door. We mainly keep just the little door open, so the chickens can go in and out to lay eggs, eat, etc whenever they like. Although, on hot days we chain the big door open to get more air circulation.

 

[Emily Young]

My coop is off the ground sitting on barn beams, and it's partially insulated (still need to finish the walls inside). I have had many issues with raccoons getting my chickens, but they were never able to access the chickens while in the coop. It was if we didn't get home soon enough to close the doors or a chicken got out of the fence and we couldn't find her. Just a few days ago I was going to go close the doors and a young coon was stealing feed from the trough right by the big door, but didn't seem to pay any attention to the chickens inside. We have put raccoon traps by the front of the coop at night, and if in the morning the raccoons are nice/even playful we relocate them in a marsh about 30 minutes awayr on my house, and if they're aggressive we shoot them in the cage.

 

[debid]

Even if you are convinced that your run is predator proof, it isn't going to be pretty the first time a storm kicks up after dark. Just teach them.

I don't like gathering chicks so I Iock mine in for their first week and they forever know to sleep indoors after that.

 

[auroaSfarm]

If you have rooster and they feel like they could be harmed they will crow all night and u wouldn't want that, I'd keep them in the coop.

 

[hlhutchinson]

Also, are they going to learn to go in to the coop themselves? It's ok having to pick them each up and put them in now, but I don't want to have to do that for full grown chickens every night!

It takes a bit but they will learn that they go in the coop at night and start doing it on there own. I had to do this with my chickens and they eventually started going in with out help. lol it was when I started thinking they will never learn to do this alone they think bed time is when my human put us bed

 

[Chickassan]

You really shouldn't have to do it more than a few times they learn pretty fast. I would make sure they do go in at night, you would be amazed at the lengths stuff will go to just to eat your chickens especially at night.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I would train your birds to go in the coop first' until they start getting the idea... then decide. I would also set up a game cam around the coop. I bet your getting night time predators (or will once word gets out) than you realize....

 

[1ADAM12]

Anyone ever heard of predator eye? We bought some off of Amazon and they are solar powered and strobe red lights at night. We have had them for over a year and have had no problems with any predator. I know I have fox and coons around. I catch them on the game camera all the time
Back in the woods!!!!

 

[barn206]

Anyone ever heard of predator eye? We bought some off of Amazon and they are solar powered and strobe red lights at night. We have had them for over a year and have had no problems with any predator. I know I have fox and coons around. I catch them on the game camera all the time
Back in the woods!!!!

A friend told me about the predator eye a few weeks ago.. I just utubed it and I think I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for posting that

 

[Ole rooster]

Just remember, chickens at any age have no idea what safety is. They do what they do and when one gets gone, the rest keep on doing their thing. The safety thing is for you to protect you chickens.