Help !!! My chickens won't go IN the coop OR come OUT of the coop ????

[cj7795]

We have a 6 week chick & an 8 week chick that were just put in the coop this past week (they have been in there about 4 days) and to get them to come out of the coop I have to shoo them out the door & to get them back in the coop at night I have to go out there and literally pick them up and put them in the coop? When do they are start doing this on their own? How do I help them learn to do this? Any and All help is greatly appreciated !!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

What you are seeing is not unusual. Chickens generally don’t like change so they are often cautious about anything new. Their brain doesn’t work like ours either. It’s not that they are stupid or not intelligent, just that they have a bird brain that works differently than a humans.

I’ve opened the pop door for chicks and had some outside on the ground within 15 minutes. I’ve had some take three days before one built up the courage to venture out. They’d gather around that pop door and look out but none would venture out. And when one did they were back inside within a very few minutes.

I’ve had some that go back in the coop without a problem to sleep. I’ve had some that gather at the pop door and snuggle down outside it to sleep at night. I pick them up and put them inside. Some of them learn that one time to go inside at night. I’ve had to do that for some every night for over two weeks before they got the message.

There is no firm answer to your questions. Each group is different although my facilities are the same. Those birdbrains do whatever they are going to do. But they will eventually learn.

 

[cj7795]

I have read that you should keep them locked in their coop for a week or so & they will learn this is "home" ... what are your thoughts on that? Also, the steepness of the ramp ... will that make a difference?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Keeping them in the coop for a week is a good idea. I always do. Sometimes I still have to put some of them in the coop for a few nights. Some groups of chicks are better about it than others.

I don’t use ramps. The opening to my grow-out coop is about 2-1/2 feet off the ground. They just jump/fly up. I don’t know what yours looks like but maybe a perch could work as well as a ramp. If your ramp is too steep for them to walk up it and they want to get to the top, they’ll just jump/fly up there. Of course, if you have Silkies that’s different since Silkies can’t fly.

 

[smccuen]

I'm very new at this. I moved the chickens out of their indoor coop (in the living room) into the outdoor coop the day I finished building it (took a week). Then I left them in the outdoor coop with plenty of food and water for the six days it took for me to build their run. About an hour before sundown that day I finished up and let them out and five of the six were out exploring within a few minutes. The straggler wouldn't venture out for about 20 minutes. They have, since then, come out first thing each morning when I open the pop door and they have gone back in each evening as darkness fell. Haven't had the round them up once. Now - the ducklings are a totally different story.....nothing to cap off the day like chasing them around in the dark. But in a few days they'll be old enough to just leave out so they can sleep under their coop if that's what they want to do.

 

[locoguru]

What you are seeing is not unusual. Chickens generally don’t like change so they are often cautious about anything new. Their brain doesn’t work like ours either. It’s not that they are stupid or not intelligent, just that they have a bird brain that works differently than a humans.

He said bird brain!

 

[Incukahlan]

RidgeRunner is completely right. Everyone has their preferences. But with my experience they are a little young to know what the routine is. We typically don't let ours really free range until around 11-12 weeks. Even then they aren't going to understand what a routine is. We fully expect to have to guide/chase(lol) ours back in when it's time to go back. As the same thing happens over and over and over they will eventually pick it up. Every one will be different. Some will be easy and pick up a routine effortlessly. Others will be more stubborn and play dumb. (this is where "bird brain" comes in) Leaving them in the coop for atleast a week, even more if they are having a rough time adjusting will help greatly. They won't hurt any not free ranging right now. It's more important that they feel comfortable in their environment and get used to their surroundings. A stressed bird never learns or complies with anything. Good luck!

 

[rebelboy]

yes they will figure it out, but keeping them up for 5 to 8 days or so helps

 

[jllynn601]

I put my chicks out in their coop after 4 weeks... They didn't go in or out, come to find out, they did not like my original ladder. Then with the new ladder I built they immediately had races up and down it.

 

[locoguru]

How long should the ladder be if the coup is 12" off the ground?