!HELP! how do I get my chickens in the coop for the night

[kimisfishing]

They are only a few weeks old ( I think) maybe 12weeks and they run around in the dog pen all day, then I chase and catch them and put them in the coop ( house) at night. I let them out at dawn. I feed them at night when they go in and they have water all the time. when they get bigger I will let them out of the pen during the day, but I have to train them to go in at night first so they will come to the house. Is all this even posible???? they have not been out there long, and they do go in and out of the house all day. They are safe in the pen but thought I had to put thme in the house at night. I also want them to lay in the house. I hope am doing this right, but if not, let me know and I will.

 

[Ksane]

Like I said-they need to have all the food they want in the DAY time. Don't take their food away in the day time. They're much safer if they just stay in the run and then go into their little house at night. You'll have to herd them into it for a week or 2 but they'll figure it out. They're too young to be out of their run free ranging. Much too young. Keep them in their run during the day, with all the food and water they want.

 

[kimisfishing]

ok thanks

 

[mkcolls]

Both DH & I have physical challenges and after moving 9wk old chicks to the new pen (360sf) & coop and chasing them to get them in each night, we got a fishing net.

We only had to use it a couple of times, using the same phrase, "It's time to go in", and they started going in by themselves. After one chick was netted the rest quickly got to pop door.

No chickens were hurt in the end of the day coop closing. For a few weeks if one of them forget all we had to do was get the net out and stand it up in the pen, they jumped over each other to get in the pop door.

Now, when they are ignoring us at coop time, all we have to do is say "net" and they head for the pop door.

Our chicks hate to go in earlier than they think is time. The best time is when they have had a last feeding time on the yard, and before the light is gone as they don't see well at dusk.

Good Luck and don't give up, they will learn.

 

[larsonll]

I spent a week going out after dark and hand carrying each one into the coop. They finally figured it out. After dark, they are pretty helpless, so it's much easier then. I tried chasing them and it did not work well.

 

[pinkwindsong]

I used a couple of trickery methods on my girls.. 1st at night I used a couple of the solar powered lights ( ya know you get them at walmart for like $2.00) and i put it in the house at night, its dim and slowly goes out thru the night then the next day i pull it out to recharge.. they were much happier and settled down much faster with the little night light on.. then I made a big deal of goodie time just at dusk and int he coop.. so that they would come each night for goodies then I just closed the door. continue to give goodies and talk to each of them and then I would slowly leave. didn't take them long at all.. now they always go in about 15 min before dusk. they settle in to who's roosting where and next to whom.. and I still stroke their backs and talk to each one before I lock them in at night. they all know their names come when called and are all happy girls

god luck

Pink

 

[sharol]

Yeah, I would agree with just giving them time. Also you might put a little light in the coop. I use a little solar light from Wal-mart (I think it was $4 a year ago). I put it in the coop an hour before dusk. As soon as it is lighter IN the coop than IN the run, they go in to the lighter space. Then I shut the door. In the morning, I put it back out in the yard to recharge.

I let them free-range in the yard from whenever I get home in the afternoon until about an hour before dark. Then I take them a plate of treats (veggies, fruit, cottage cheese, whatever is around) and call chick chick chick in a corny sing-song voice. They literally thunder into the run to get to the treat plate. I close the run and wait for them to go in the coop.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Gvnam]

:S mine have never had that problem before. They had immediately gone into the coop at dusk the first day I put them in it... Maybe get a treat or something to lure them in. Mine love baked oatmeal. I always put it in the same ceramic dog bowl so whenever they see me with it they think food! And follow me into the run where I lock them up, that is when I have to go somewhere in the morning.

 

[kimisfishing]

Thanks, I think if I keep up what I am doing they will get it, but I really didi not think about need ing food at night.....mine did not sleep when they were in the house, but 20 miutes at a time. Tonight is the first time I did not leave the light on for them, so will leave food out for them tomorrow. Sould I leave it in the coop or out in their yard pen)?

 

[larsonll]

Mine were in a brooder box on the back porch and I watched them eat/drink at night. I moved them to the coop at 6 weeks and did not offer food or water in the area they are closed up in at night. No problems 3 weeks later. They do rush down the ramp when I open the door in the am! I don't recall how old yours are, but I received a lot of reassurance to not keep feed or water in the roost at night, and I have not had a single problem (and much less mess).