Help! My chickens wont go in their new coop!

[jomercer]

If it looks darker in the coop than it does outside, they'll be reluctant to enter. Use the solar/battery lighting ideas--and consider painting the inside of the coop white, too.

 

[scooter147]

1. It's dark in there and that is probably the biggest reason for their reluctance.
2. Chicken will generally roost as high as they can get, so the roof is higher than the inside.

You mention, "I don't mind if they sleep outside" don't do it. Coons, possums etc will pick them off and quick.

 

[patandchickens]

Nother vote here for "way too dark for them to go in there in evening". Paint inside white, including the underside of the roof, and if that doesn't do it consider the solar driveway light idea (the advantage of that is that if you get the cheapest one, it will dim out after several hours when it is no longer needed)

Also possibly pretty hot in there if the front is normally closed during the day so that there's only the popdoor and that upper triangular area (I assume that's a vent?)

As others have said, DO NOT LET THEM SLEEP OUTSIDE, your run is radically un-raccoon/possum/anything-else proof and as soon as the local predators get a taste they will try much, much harder in the future. Better they never learn and never acquire ambitions

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[pontoosuc]

I've been using two solar lights like the other poster mentioned and they work great!