Do your chickens go in and out of your coop throughout the day?

[jombolo]

I've noticed that mine will go back up for a little while during the morning, maybe for an early morning nap? but tend to stay out most of the day, even during heavy downpours or thunder and lighting, they dont seem to be frightened of it. Usually the only other times they go up is mid-day to lay, i've noticed. I wouldn't worry too much about them going into the coop or not. be sure to place a couple golf balls where you would like them to lay their eggs, prior to me doing that, they would lay eggs randomly throughout the coop. i only keep food in their run, however i don't keep their coop locked up at night so they can go down and get food/water if they need to, i've never observed them making a food run in the middle of the night though. If they have access to their run at night, i wouldn't worry about putting food in the coop, it just makes more work for you. hope this helps

 

[Chickmimi1]

They will become interested in the nesting boxes when they're around 20 weeks old, you'll see them go inside, and get into the nesting boxes, and sort of check them out--investigate. They you'll be surprised one day and see an egg in the nest! Don't let them get into the nesting boxes too early. Maybe block them off until they're about 17 week old, because you don't want them to get into the habit of sleeping in the nesting boxes (and pooping in the nests).

Don't be surprised if you see an egg or two on the floor of the coop or run. That does happen at first.

Oh, you'll feel like it's Christmas or your birthday or something when you get that first egg! It's so much fun! Enjoy!

Sharon

 

[Dprocell]

My chickens will go inside their house during the day but will not go in at night to sleep. I am also trying to train them to go up the ladder to get to roost but they seem frightened. I haveLooked at so many articles suggesting to lock them in the house for a few days but I live in Louisiana and it is really hot. I’m afraid if I lock them in they may get to hot and die. Are there any other suggestions on how I can get my chickens to go inside their house at night.

 

[Dprocell]

I've noticed that mine will go back up for a little while during the morning, maybe for an early morning nap? but tend to stay out most of the day, even during heavy downpours or thunder and lighting, they dont seem to be frightened of it. Usually the only other times they go up is mid-day to lay, i've noticed. I wouldn't worry too much about them going into the coop or not. be sure to place a couple golf balls where you would like them to lay their eggs, prior to me doing that, they would lay eggs randomly throughout the coop. i only keep food in their run, however i don't keep their coop locked up at night so they can go down and get food/water if they need to, i've never observed them making a food run in the middle of the night though. If they have access to their run at night, i wouldn't worry about putting food in the coop, it just makes more work for you. hope this helps

Thank you. I put food in the house to get them to start going in. They have only had there house for a few weeks and I was trying to get them use to going in but they still want to sleep on ground at night.

 

[BlessedChaosHomestead]

I’m having the opposite problem! Lol
I’m having to lock our hens out during the day. The little snots have decided that their new coop is the best place to stay after a little jaunt in the run; including the ducks.
We have fans around our run, a couple tarps for shade, but they will stay in the coop. So locked out they get. Lol

I know we won’t be able to do that soon as our 3 oldest will soon be laying. But currently we still have to create the roost & the nesting boxes.
Crazy birds!