Getting chickens back into coop at night - tried the obvious techniques)

[AdamSh]

Hi,

OK 2 weeks ago we got 9 X Plymouth rock chickens - 2 (male and female) around 1 year old. 7 are approx 10 week old chicks.
We have tried the following:

1 X week in the coop.
1 X 2nd week in the coop
Light in the coop from about 20 mins before dusk for about 45 minutes (most of the two weeks and when trying to let them enter on their own)
20 mins before dusk giving a treat in the coop 20 mins before night in the coop during the last week of "lockdown". The treats are cricket bits as I haven't yet found local dried mealworms.

Nothing so far has worked.

The chickens at night are hiding in a corner of the run area that is covered with hanging plants. The chicks are in a different corner huddled behind a pond filtration system.....

The run is not covered on top as the most common daily predators are scraggly cats and both the rooster and our dog should be able to deal with that.

Any ideas will be appreciated

Thanks,

Adam

NB attached a photo of my coop and the chickens entrance to the post.

 

[AdamSh]

Update - so this evening the rooster went into the coop on his own which is progress and I hope that will continue. All the rest stayed outside - again.
Looking for any ideas and input as we really don't want to have to catch them every evening...

 

[Sasha-chickens]

Update - so this evening the rooster went into the coop on his own which is progress and I hope that will continue. All the rest stayed outside - again.
Looking for any ideas and input as we really don't want to have to catch them every evening...

Your chickens will get use to the coop and realize that it is there home and that it is safe. Right now I can only recommend putting there food in there at nights and once they notice the food they will head towards their coop.

 

[AdamSh]

Your chickens will get use to the coop and realize that it is there home and that it is safe. Right now I can only recommend putting there food in there at nights and once they notice the food they will head towards their coop.

Thanks,

Will try and update

 

[Stepnout]

Cracked corn is just like CRACK, if you hook them on cracked corn they will follow you anywhere for it. REMEMBER corn is only to be used as a treat, don’t feed too much as it will upset their diet.
I always use crack corn for calling my birds. You can get them used to coming for the corn with a call, I simply keep repeating TREAT TREAT TREAT TREAT! in a high pitched voice. I shake the container and my birds always come running and flying from across the field like school kids after an ice cream truck. Cracked corn is cheaper than meal worms. Sunflower seeds work as well but again use only as a treat.
It will only take a few days to hook them with the treats. It will make your life easier when you can call this way.

 

[AdamSh]

Cracked corn is just like CRACK, if you hook them on cracked corn they will follow you anywhere for it. REMEMBER corn is only to be used as a treat, don’t feed too much as it will upset their diet.
I always use crack corn for calling my birds. You can get them used to coming for the corn with a call, I simply keep repeating TREAT TREAT TREAT TREAT! in a high pitched voice. I shake the container and my birds always come running and flying from across the field like school kids after an ice cream truck. Cracked corn is cheaper than meal worms. Sunflower seeds work as well but again use only as a treat.
It will only take a few days to hook them with the treats. It will make your life easier when you can call this way.

something else to try.

Thanks

 

[BGcoop]

Has it rained on them yet in the evening? I had a group of chicks that did the same thing- I had to round them up every evening and put them in the coop until the night it rained. After they figured out they stayed dry inside the coop they started to go in on their own.

 

[AdamSh]

Has it rained on them yet in the evening? I had a group of chicks that did the same thing- I had to round them up every evening and put them in the coop until the night it rained. After they figured out they stayed dry inside the coop they started to go in on their own.

If we are lucky enough there will be rain in november......
I suppose we could make some fake rain with a mist attachment to a hose - but I am not sure if that is cruel or not. I don't wish to be intentionally cruel !

 

[Matejka]

Welcome to BYC.
Where are you located? That might help us answer/resolve the problem.
When I looked at your coop-my first question was-where's the Windows/ventilation?
Second thought (I'm in Texas)
How hot is it (the coop AND where your located)?
Mine used to go in coop every Night, now 2-3 sleep on roost in run (its secure and enclosed) since it seldom drops below 80f at night.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Every time I’ve added new chickens I just have to catch them and put them in myself. It usually takes 3-4 days, BUT I’ve always had older birds to set an example.