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

[AdamSh]

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.

Hi,

There are 2 full windows which are the full length of the coop - 2 metres (approx 7ft) by about a metre. They are covered by material so if there is any wind - it can get in at the edges as night.

We are in Israel.. Not quite as hot as texas - average temperature here at the moment is about 36-38 C (97 - 100F) supposedly a little higher over the weekend! It will get as low as about 38F (3C) in the middle of the winter on a cold night - but not had to deal with that yet.

Although we have a run - it is not covered (and can't easily be as there is a mature olive tree in the middle of it!.

Thanks,

Adam.

 

[jspurr318]

It took a few weeks of me putting mine in their house. last three nights they went in on their own.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Do they have a roost inside the coop? Can you get a picture of the inside?

 

[Matejka]

I think they need more air in coop. Windows covered in hardware wire and open year round.

 

[AdamSh]

I think they need more air in coop. Windows covered in hardware wire and open year round.

There is hardware wire on both windows. We only lower the cover at night. Is this also an issue?

 

[AdamSh]

Do they have a roost inside the coop? Can you get a picture of the inside?

There are roosts (3 of them) they don't use them - the chicks jump straight off.....

 

[3KillerBs]

There is hardware wire on both windows. We only lower the cover at night. Is this also an issue?

They need ventilation at night as much as they need it during the day. More, in fact, if they're outside during the day.

 

[centrarchid]

@AdamSh For fun, consider the following. We have several batches of brooder reared chicks that were hatched at 4 week intervals. At about 4 weeks each group was moved into a different rabbit cage that was placed four to five feet above ground. The chicks have a good view of surroundings. They are kept in the cage for three straight days. At end of fourth day chicks are released to run about for an hour or so before they start wanting to go back to roost. They are good about going to near cage as being below it, but typically have an issue with the up part. Most of time they do not go up so try to roost on ground in pile below rabbit cage. The next ingredient is two kids that pick chicks up and move chicks from ground to opening of cage following a route chicks could hop, clamber or make short flights to realize their selves with ease if they knew to do so. They sort of fly the chicks like little hand-held airplanes as they go from point to point. This process is repeated each day over the next few days. Start of kids moving birds is until chicks indicate they want to go to roost. They make specific sounds indicating they are wanting to roost that are easy to recognize. Delaying start a little allows the more venturous chicks to attempt trip on their own. Simply placing chicks part of the way up helps. The chicks remember route and it seems to stick when at roosting time. Eventually chicks will perform effort themselves.

What appears to be a more effective process involves a ramp the birds can clamber up. Our ramps are similar to what you have. After chicks do the clambering part on their own, the ramp is removed to be used with next group in the next cage.

 

[Matejka]

There is hardware wire on both windows. We only lower the cover at night. Is this also an issue?

Why do you close the Windows? Because you don't want chickens to get cold? Consider if you were wrapped up in a nice down jacket, would you still be inclined to close the Windows? Chickens can survive cold better than hot. Leave open they need more ventilation, especially at night.