I left mine locked up in the coop for a couple of weeks so they were roosting and used to sleeping in there. Then, when I did let them out, they automatically went in at night. When I added another group of 6 silkies to the flock, I couldn't lock just the silkies in. So for them, I went out near dusk and waited for all my originals to go roost. I then picked all 6 silkies up and put them in the coop. On the 4th night, they followed the older chickens in all on their own. They have went in on their own ever since.