First evening in run for the girls...hope they go in!

[Lola12]

The run is finally finished, and rather than waste this beautiful weather I let my 7 rir girls out when I got hom from work. They had a wonderful time once they all came out! Now it's dusk and I'm sitting on the porch listening to them cheep very noisily! They've been in their coop for almost 2 weeks, so I know they know where "home" is. One went back up the ramp a couple of times during the evening and even went inside the second time. Now it sounds like they don't know what they're supposed to do! I've never heard them this noisy....they sound a bit distressed. They're all still outside. They know the way in, it will be a low of 60 tonight (they're 6 weeks old today). So I'm thinking just leave them alone? My run is predator proof....the idea has always been to leave them access, but I really thought they would have gone in on their own by now! Pretty much dark now!

 

[fldiver97]

If they don't go in but seem stressed out I would try to turn a liht on in the coop to see if that gets them in or throw some treats in or both. If it does not work, wait till dark then scoop them up and put them in the coop. Good luck......hope they get the routine down quickly!

 

[ChksontheRun]

My chicks have been outside for 5 days and they cant figure out how to go into the coop at night either. Each night after dark, I go out, scoop them up and put them inside for the night. Getting colder here tonight so I even turned on their heat light and it didn't attract them either. Seems like they just don't know what to do when it gets dark out. I figure they will learn if I keep putting them in at night. They do go up their ramp during the day so I know they can. Silly, stupid, sweet chickens

 

[lemurchaser]

I always put them in the first night. Mine don't figure it out right away. Sure they know where home is, but chickens don't like to go into dark places and the coop is dark first. They have to learn to go back inside. A day or 2 of them having access to the run and they'll get it, but I'd go ahead and put them into the coop after dark.

 

[Lola12]

Thanks for your quick replies! They became suddenly silent, when I went to check on them they had bedded down in the part of the run that is under the coop. One corner is covered with plywood, so that's where they went to feel safe. I'm going to go get them and put them in right now. Wish me luck!

 

[Lola12]

Okay, all the girls are tucked in, LOL! The only light there is in there is a heat lamp, which I haven't needed to use in a week or so. I went ahead and turned it on just so they would have enough light to get oriented. I'll turn it off in a bit. I had great fun watching them outside for the first time! One found a worm and it was like she had discovered gold! Everyone chased her around to try to get it!

 

[lemurchaser]

Watching them discover the world is so fun. I can watch them for hours.

 

[markb816]

I have noticed that chickens are very much creatures of habit. They are BIG on routine. It takes awhile to transition to change for them. Routine is very important to a chicken. If you continue to put them everynight manually, then sooner or later they will catch on. Chickens are like humans, each different and unique. It may take awhile and even some of them will catch on before others, but it will happen. Just be persistent and after a while of putting them in yourself, they will get the ideal and will come in on their own.

 

[Lola12]

Happy to report that the girls caught on quickly! Only had to put them to bed that first night....the next two when I went to check on them after dark they were all in!

When the sun rised they all come marching back out. The last 2 days they've been going in and out, eating, etc. so looks like they're comfortable with the ramp and everything. They've already demolished the clover in their run, might have to move it sooner than I planned!

 

[fldiver97]

Good to hear it worked!