getting them in the coop?

[Circe]

How do I train them to go in their coop at night? This is only day 2 of our Chicken adventure. Last night, DH and I had to work together to round them up (fast little buggers) and get them in. They came out with no problem this morning.

 

[jhook1997]

New to this too but we didn't let ours out for a few weeks after they were moved to the coop so they would know where "home" was. We have a 50'x50' run that we let them out to in the morning and in the evening they put themselves to bed. I guess you could probably bribe them with some treats. Find something they really like, give they some, then go in the coop and call "chicky, chicky, chicky (or some such nonsense). Mine know now that calling them means "treats"!

 

[Tres Amigas]

Yep - treats & nonsense!

 

[Zaxby's2]

With my new ones I just wait until they fall asleep on the ground and then I put them on the roost. The next day they do it on there own.

If they haven't done it the next day then either you do it again until they get the hang of it, or they're not able to get up there on their own and you'll have to fix something. Good luck!

 

[teach1rusl]

Was this only their 2nd day in the coop? Most leave them inside the coop for several days before letting them out into the run so that they learn that this shelter is "home." But if your temps are anything like ours here, you might end up with baked chicken

What's always worked for me is putting a small light inside the coop (if you don't have power - get one of those battery operated push lights or even a flashlight). Turn the light on about 30 minutes before it starts getting dark, and they should be attracted to the safety of the light as it begins getting darker outside. Once everyone's in - turn out the light. Hope that works for you

P.S. You would need to make sure no bright porchlight or something similar is on, since they want to be where there is still light...

 

[MyShunshyn]

Well, we left them locked in the coop for a few days at first but with this heat, i guess you are stuck ith rounding them up. It is easier, as many have mentioned, to get them after the sun goes down and they are trying to sleep where they are. Just pick them up and place them on the roost.

If you plan on freerangeing keep them locked in the run until you are SURE that they know the coop is before you let them out. Then they will put themselves to bed, you will be amazed. Ours are about 12 weeks now and have free run of the yard all day and in this heat i quite often find them in the coop during the hotest part of the day, waiting for me to bring frozen jugs of ice for them to cuddle which is very cute by the way

A guaranteed way to get them to follow you like the Pied Piper is to get a tub of Dried Mealworms, we get them at Lowes by the bird seed,
We refer to this controlled substance as " Chicken Crack" they go nuts for it. Give it to them as a treat...calling "here chick chick" and shake the tub..... Then keep your small children and pets safely out of the STAMPEDE! LOL works everytime someone is stuborn and doesn't want to come to the coop when i want.

Have fun!

 

[karlamaria]

Mine sit at theback door, and we walk towards the coop with them talking up a storm lol they know it's that time of night to get grapes. So off they run to the run, we close the run door behind them and they go to bed on there own when it gets dark. We like them to enjoy there freedom until about 8:30 and then off to the run. After that it's up to them, and there on the roost by ten so we can close the hend house door

. They love them seedless grapes! We only give these when we want to put them back in there run, this way they know what is required of them every time. Especially tonight when a huge storm came up, we ran to the run and they ran after us to get the grapes and we penned them in in case it was hail ( we have a covered run)

 

[jmp568]

I'm a newbie too. Have 5 Barred Rocks that I adore. It took me a week to teach them to go in at night. I only left them one full day in coop and let them out. First day was no problem they wanted to be in coop. Second day I had to wrangle one pullet. She still hates me for that. But I had them in my house for nearly a month and handled them alot. They are friendly for the most part. I use treats, which I started at the house after I ot home from work. I have a horse farm where these girls now call home. After 4 days , all I have to do is call them and they come running into coop for night Threy are 8 weeks old now and I don't need treats anymore, they just come when I call and I usually refill water at night and food thats enough, with a bit of neck scratching and sitting on my head and a treat if I have some all is well. Chickens are far brighter then we think. Or at least brighter than I gave them credit for. Shame on me But I have realized how intelligent these birds are and I love it and use it to my advantage. My girls are my new best friends !! I spend to much time hangin with them when I should be sitting on a horse Give it time and the same routine they will learn.

 

[hcppam]

Treats and picking them up and putting them on their roost for a week or two. Chicken wrangler. yepeeeee!

 

[ericnash]

My chickens love bread. I throw a few pieces on the ground and then into the coop and they fly right in after it. Then I close the door. I agree with the other posts that they need to be left inside until they establish their "home"