Go to bed!!!

[Andy E 123]

I did that as well with some pullets. It took a little over a week, maybe two. It was worth it though. Until recently. They will go in now, but then i moved the coop to an area with six or seven trees and the cockerels are like, "Thanks for the safe coop, but we'll pass. The tree is better." and the pullets are like, "it took you two weeks to teach us to go in the coop, but the peak of the roof looks better so we are going to make you climb up on the roof EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to get us down. Thanks!" Drives me batty.

It's been a week now
I'm still lifting them into the coop, but now leave the door open and they choose to stay in overnight, so I guess its progress

 

[Abriana]

I found out one night that they could go in on their own because i had some people over and didn't get out to the chickens until a little after dusk. They were all in. My suggestion is wait until a little later than you normally put them in and see what happens. Maybe sit near the coop so you can check to see if they are not panicking in the dark or if one is left out.

 

[s k y]

Mine took 3-4 days to go in on their own, I'd put them in at dusk, now they go in whenever it gets dark.

 

[Abriana]

I was probably putting them in too early, but then i guess it was really ingrained in their minds except they insist on sitting on the very peak of the roof.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Ours run free all day but locked up at night. The locked door not only keeps them in but keeps predators out. The burden of waking up Early beats waking up to find your flock shredded to pieces all over your property.

As far as not wanting to go back in. Lock them in for a week and they will return as soon as the sunsets. Creatures of habit. So are predators.

 

[wvchics]

Chickens are creatures of habit. It's easy to train them. You just need a regular schedule and eventually they will figure it out. Dusk seems to be the most common time chickens will go in for the night, but all of them are different. I prefer to have the interaction, and also, keep them safe from predators. I have been free ranging when I'm home and use the run in the morning and when I'm gone. They all gather at the door and wait to go in the coop around dusk. I haven't kept them in the coop since it got warm enough, but I did when I first got them. Now, they see it as their home.

 

[Abriana]

Thats true, but they will still roost in the tree. I have hens that have been in the coop for a over a year and they still go into the tree. It is their natural instinct to roost in the tree.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

just wandering how long before they go on their own and save me getting up early to let them out

OUCH.. No easy way to say this.. Sorry if it offends you.
I posted a reply earlier to a lot of other threads but yours repeated in my head over and over.

Again sorry in advance for brutal honesty!
Don't take on a responsibly caring for a delicate animal if sleeping late is a top priority. Eggs taste better when you earn them.
I just deleted a 2000 character rant so I don't become hated.
Just please set your alarm clock or trade your chickens in for a fish tank..
Sorry again but....

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

@Farmer Connie, I agree with you to an extent, but then again each chicken owner is different. For instance, on my little homestead, I have feed and water automated (when needed) so that I can sleep in on occasion (it is nice once in a while not to have to wake up when the rooster crows), or take a short vacation without having to bother someone (who didn't take on the "chicken responsibility") to do the work for me.

However, I am also the one up and at the chickens every other day (when not out of town), bringing them their fermented feed 2x a day and letting them out/in in the mornings and evenings. My wife told me that if we have these animals, it's my responsibility to make sure they thrive, so that is how it is. Raising animals, no matter what kind, is a responsibility. And frankly, chickens aren't that much work compared to many others, but you do have to be attentive.

@Andy E 123, you may want to take her advice and lock them in the coop for a week without free-ranging them, then they will be much more apt to going back there.

If it were me, I would lock them up for about 5-7 days in the coop, then if they continue to have issue with coming back at night, start creating "danger" outside the coop when the sun goes down. Take a hose and spray in their direction to lead them back to the coop. Clank pie tins or pans together near them to make them move. Show them that "outside the coop at night" is a dangerous place. It's worked for me on a few that are stubborn and refuse to listen to reason. Then once those problem chickens are in the coop, leave them in there again for a few days. Just my opinion, may not be "PETA-approved" but it's better than them coming face to face with real danger.

 

[MAchicken105]

Me too! My gals have been outside for a week and they insist on having me put them to bed every night. They all stand at the gate to their run screaming for me around 7:30pm. Not sure what to do, I've installed a light and they can see just fine. Nothing is working. Hopefully another week will do the trick?

I also have 12 6 week old chicks that just went outside a week ago and they will not go in the coop at night they all huddle up on top of each other in the darkest corner of the run. I have to put them in the coop every night after dark