Finally put themselves to bed!

Woohoo! For months I have been going out every night and collecting the four pullets (2 near point of lay, 2 only 12 wks or so) from perches in the run and moving them in with the big girls. We are leaving for vacation in a week, and I was getting so worried that they weren't going to work out how to "put themselves to bed" in the safe, dark coop. Occasionally one would make it up, but the others would be outside. Tonight I went out and thought something had eaten them, but I opened up the coop door and the big and medium and little chickens were all snuggled together- everyone safe and accounted for. Not sure if my neighbors using the sprinkler spooked them into going up, or if all of the repetition night after night finally paid off. I'm so happy. I cannot explain my excitement and relief! Just had to share!

 

Tonight they were back out. I realized the night they went in was when our neighbor's sprinkler was on- I think it scared them. I am going to try setting our sprinklers for ten minutes before sundown and see if that helps.