Dummies won't go in the coop

[benjoycei]

I have 7 young chickens, about 4 months old (I got them when they were 2 months old) and no matter what I do they won't go in the coop. At night they sit on the roosts outside. They will look in but not go in. They need to start before they start laying. Any suggestions on how to get them in there?

 

[starri33]

When we built our new coop, the hens and roo wanted to sleep in the old one, so they found where ever they could perch near the old one and that is where I found them the second night, gave them the first night to see if they'd figure it out, we had to pick them up for about three nights after that and put them in the coop on the roosts, they finally figured out that was where they were suppose to be sleeping. Now they are all crammed on the first two roost poles. lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

When you first got them, did you lock them inside the coop for a few days? That will help home them to it.

Other things to consider: Is it too hot inside? Too dark? Too stuffy? Too cramped? Did you check for mites or lice? Chickens "vote with their feet" - if they've been homed to a coop and still won't use it, they're trying to tell you there's something not to their liking.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

1. How late are they staying out? Are you giving them plenty of time to go inside? Our young pullets are never ready to settle down as early as the old biddies, by at least half an hour. It's usually quite dark before the party animals are ready to call it a night.

2. Do there *need* to be roosts outside the coop? If you eliminate the "garden furniture," perhaps they will go inside and settle down on the inside roosts, where they belong.

 

[Henriettamom919]

I almost hate to ask but since this happened to me, I have to.

Did you buy a prefabricated coop? Either online or from a farm and feed store?

 

[Ridgerunner]

People have asked some good questions. We need more information about your flock and set-up to offer suggestions that might apply to you. There could be a lot of different things going on.

Do you have older chickens in the coop? What have you done to try to get them to sleep in there? for how long? Are your outside roosts higher than you inside roosts? Is it too dark for them to see to go to bed? How big is the coop, how is it laid out inside? Photos might help. To solve a problem you need to know what is causing it. Right now I don't know.

I'm not sure they need to be sleeping in there before they start to lay unless you lock them out. If you have fake eggs in the nests there is still a pretty good chance they will use those nests. If you have older hens laying in there, the pullets often learn from them where to lay. But yes, I'd prefer them to be sleeping in there.

 

[benjoycei]

I almost hate to ask but since this happened to me, I have to.

Did you buy a prefabricated coop? Either online or from a farm and feed store?

I made my coop. They occasionally go in there now, mainly to lay eggs, but sleep outside.

 

[glassdragonfly]

HI! Personally I take away any roosts that I don't want them to use. We had a tree with a low limb they would get on,first time they tried to spend the night on it it got trimmed! With some young ones I had to lock them up early a few nights. Took away the food half the day and they went right in after it! Got them on track.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Pictures would definitely help. Are they still sleeping outside?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, I see your answer now. Can you post pics so we can try to solve the problem?