Get chicks to go into coop at night?

[Aegault]

So my 4.5wk old chicks (fully feathered) are now in the coop/run since last Thursday.

Will they just start naturally going into the coop at night? Last night I forgot about them while we were getting dinner together and when I went out at 830 (full dark, still about 73 degrees) they were all just huddled together sleeping in the run vs. going up the ramp, into the lit (and warmer) coop.

I still have a light on for warmth in the coop although I'm going to start reducing the wattage to give them the idea that night is sleeping (but not freaking them out by suddenly, literally, turning the lights off on them).

Maybe just take the light away period and see if they go into the coop on their own?

I finally did see them over the last day start to go up the coop on their own during the day- they weren't doing that at first.

 

[austinbndr28]

So my 4.5wk old chicks (fully feathered) are now in the coop/run since last Thursday.

Will they just start naturally going into the coop at night? Last night I forgot about them while we were getting dinner together and when I went out at 830 (full dark, still about 73 degrees) they were all just huddled together sleeping in the run vs. going up the ramp, into the lit (and warmer) coop.

I still have a light on for warmth in the coop although I'm going to start reducing the wattage to give them the idea that night is sleeping (but not freaking them out by suddenly, literally, turning the lights off on them).

Maybe just take the light away period and see if they go into the coop on their own?

I finally did see them over the last day start to go up the coop on their own during the day- they weren't doing that at first.

They just have to get used to where they are supposed to sleep. With young birds I would have to put them in the coop my self at night for a couple days then they should learn where to sleep.

 

[foreverlearning]

After they learn to go in there during the day you need to go out just before dusk and put them all in there. It usually only takes 2-3 days for them all to learn the time to go in it at the right time. Keep in mind though that sometimes you will have a straggler that doesn't make it in to the coop in time. In that case they are usually right next to the coop and can't see in the dark to go inside. I don't even pick those up when that happens (after they have learned to go in on their own) I just shine a flashlight on the opening and they go right in. Then I shine it on an open spot on the roost so they can get up there.

 

[Aegault]

I'll just continue to pop them in the coop and hope they figure it out eventually.

Right now when I put them in the coop I shut the door so they're stuck in there till morning- there's food / water still in there (in addition to the run), any thought as to when to take that away?

 

[foreverlearning]

I free range so my food and water is in the coop with the addition of water bowls threw out the pasture. It is your choice if you want to take it out. Things to consider as to where you keep it at: Will the weather effect it? (wet moldy feed is not good) Can rodents get to it? (problems with feed loss and illness) Do they have access to it at the crack of dawn? (they get really hungry first thing in the morning, either an automatic coop door so they can get to it, you open the coop that early, or it is inside)

 

[Aegault]

Coop door is inside the run so I assume I'll do like my friends do and once they figure out how to tuck themselves in at night I'll leave the door open so they can come out whenever they want in the morning.

 

[Sonya9]

My 7 week olds are in and out of the coop all day long. Around dusk I bring them a bowl of cooked oatmeal (to keep them warm at night, it is slow to digest). They run in to eat their evening oatmeal and I close the coop door so they are in all night.

The first night they huddled on the floor, then they discovered the nest boxes so now they all huddle together in one of those (I lined one with a towel and then put a puppy pad over it to catch the mess).

 

[Aegault]

What do you know! My chicks are in the coop on their own! They are sitting at the door to the run so I can see them there. I'll check on them again later and since it's going to be so warm here tonight (mid-60s for low) think I'll just leave their door open. Still going to scale back on the lighting though.

 

[suzanne bauer]

I have 6 chicks that are 7 weeks. They were closed in the coop exclusively for a couple days so they would know where "home" is. They were then let out to the run during the day in hopes that they would make their way to the coop at dusk. 2 of the chicks have been doing it since day one. The other four huddle in a corner of the coop to sleep! I have to lift them all in. I have seen most of them on the ladder during the day so i know they can get up and down, however my 2 silkies have never been up the ladder. Its like a moody teenager that refuses to do what their mom wants them to! They even give me the "eye" when i go to put them to bed! Is it a silkie thing? Could they just not understand the ladder? It has only been a little over a week, but I'm getting frustrated....:/

 

[suzanne bauer]

I meant they huddle in a corner of the run too sleep.....oops....