Getting chicks in the coop to roost

[junebuggena]

Mine are evidently slow learners! They stayed in the coop for about a week, then went out into the run. It's been 3 weeks+ and I still have to put them up at night. I do put them up before dark, which probably doesn't help. I go in with the garden rake & make sshh noises. The zip right in. Without the rake, we have issues. I don't hit or chase them with the rake, go figure

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The easiest time to get chicks into their coop is right around sundown. If you try to coop them up too early in the evening, be prepared to do some chicken herding. If you try to coop them up too late, then you'll be chasing chickens around in the dark.

We put a lower one down for them, but a lot mine are still on the ground in a dog pile.

My 14 week and 12 week olds have been in their coop for over a month now and they still prefer to sleep in a pile. They like to nap on their roosts. You can't exactly force them to roost. They will eventually do it when they are ready.

 

[rides2far]

That's what I figure. You can't rush potty training or roost training! The last 2 evenings, they've been in the coop & just had to close & lock pop door:<)

 

[vchicks]

U r right. That is working inside the coop. It's the transition from run to roost that is a challenge. They can all manage to go up and down the ramp; just not going in the coop at dusk as they should. its probably just a matter of time...

 

[LI chickie]

My girls like to fly out of the coop in the morning. They even fly/jump up on a rail outside but at night they are still huddling in a pile.

 

[vchicks]

They all went in the coop on their own, FINALLY. DH went to round up the stragglers as we have been for the past 2 1/2 weeks and they were all in!

 

[rides2far]

Congrats! Mine are now going in on their own, too. Now, learning to roost is next...

 

[vchicks]

great! how old are yours?

 

[vchicks]

How old r yours LI chickie?

 

[Grimm]

We tried coop-training our girls for a week but they refused to navigate the ramp in or out. We tried a few more days of coop training then figured they have to learn at some point and started letting them out in the run. They got the hang of leaving the coop but going back in was a bit harder for them.

Last week my husband had to work late so I didn't have any help with herding the cluckers back in the coop for the night. After debating waiting for DH to get home well after dark or look like a fool chasing them around I went outside. To my surprise they were all in the coop and waiting for me to close the pop door. It was 15 minutes later than we normally lock them up for the night. Now we wait til they go in on their own.

As for roosting, we had a small roost in the brooder and grow out pen so they know how to use it and did before the move to the coop. I think it is just part of the adjustment to the new set up and they will get back to it soon. This morning they were waiting on the roost for me to open the pop door. Judging from the poop on the board they must have slept there.

Once the girls in the brooder now are a bit older I'll put the roost in there for them to play with.

 

[LI chickie]

How old r yours LI chickie?

My chicks are about 7 weeks now