Getting in the coop

[camire77]

Hi. Chicken newbie here. Need some suggestions. Anyone have any tips or tricks to get their girls in their coop at night. We have a nice run that has a stump in it with some vegetation around it. We recently moved the girls from the basement to the new coop and run. At night they are all gathering in the vegetation. I put a light in the coop hoping it would draw them in at night. No luck.

 

[Toehead]

Lock them into the coop for a few days so they know that it is "home". I did that, and they now go onto the perches right at dusk. All I have to do is lock the door!

 

[Bethel3330]

The first night I had mine I had to put the young ones in (8 week and 5 week olds). The second night I only had to put in the 5 week olds, the third night they all went in on their own. They all even crowd up on the top roost together. They'll catch on.

 

[camire77]

Well almost a week later and I am still having to put them away at night. I just put them on the ramp and they walk in. Guess I will have to lock them in for a few days. Really didn't want to do that cause the love being in the run. Any other ideas?

 

[Bethel3330]

What time are you putting them up? I notice mine go in a good hour earlier than the neighbor's birds. They follow the lead of my rooster and he'll go in at 6:30pm on a cloudy day. Coming home I noticed some still out at 8pm nearby, but not mine! Lol

 

[Ninamm]

Mine just knew to go to bed whern the sun went down and into the coop they went.

 

[camire77]

Well I have been going out there at almost 10. No rooster here (that I know of, maybe one of the silkies).I have 3 Isas and they go in and out all day. Like now it started raining so they went in on their own. I also have 3 silkies they just find a corner and wait out the rain or go to sleep in the run. So I usually go out there and put them on the ramp and they walk right in. I also have 2 ducks and I have to do the same with them. At night since everyone else is in the run the Isas stay out with them.

 

[camire77]

My coop is elevated and the door is high so I have a ramp that is 6 feet long. Today I saw our one silkie try to fly up to the door when the rain started. Do you think I need to put something else in there to help them up?

 

[Pinkaboo]

My coop is elevated and the door is high so I have a ramp that is 6 feet long. Today I saw our one silkie try to fly up to the door when the rain started. Do you think I need to put something else in there to help them up?

I only have a short ladder and mine slip about coming out of the door
Maybe wrap chicken wire around it so they can grip more easily

 

[chickogolden]

My husband put shingles on ours. We painted it white so it don't get as hot in the summer. Our chickens would slide all the way down it. Now I kind of think we took away there fun.