Help to get my chickens to go into the coop

[SissyJ]

This is my first time having chickens and Guinea hens. I have 9 chickens and two guineas. I bought them as Pullets about 6-8 weeks old. They stayed in the coop for 2 weeks, then I let them out in the covered run. They didn't seem to know to go back into the coop, So I put them back in. and left them in there another week. I let them out and they went back in for about a week, then all of a sudden they wont go back into the coop at the night. They gather in a corner in the run. I keep their food in the coop, and they go in and out during the day to eat, but not at night. I am unsure what to do to get them to go into the coop at night. They are about 3.5 months old now. Do I take the food out during the day and put it in as it gets closer to night as was suggested by someone. There isn't anything in there, predator wise, so I don't understand why they wont go in there at night. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[FunClucks]

Can you post pictures of your coop and run? How hot is it in there, how large is your coop, and does it have light and ventilation? Any possible predators?

 

[SissyJ]

Their run is a 10 x 15 run with a coop in the middle. I was closing the door at night, and they have that large opening on the front and side for air. I didn't see anything in there. The only thing I thought of was a snake, but didn't see one. Nothing else can get in there. There is ventilation under the roof edge as well. I didn't have lights, wS always told chickens need dark at night to sleep, but I did add two red solar lights hoping to attract them back in there, but it didn't. I will post pictures below.

 

[Samjo]

What worked for me was a combination of two things. Improving the ventilation of the coop, and putting an LED light inside on a timer. The light comes on around 6:00 and goes off around 9:30. The day I installed the light, is the day they started sleeping inside.

 

[SissyJ]

Thank you, I will try that, I will remove some of the doors, I left them for the winter, but if they need more ventilation, I will remove some of the doors and will also try a light.

 

[SissyJ]

Can you post pictures of your coop and run? How hot is it in there, how large is your coop, and does it have light and ventilation? Any possible predators

 

[SissyJ]

I added pictures above, maybe you can see them, I wasn't sure if they took at first.

 

[Iluveggers]

Agree that a light inside would help. Even one of those dollar store stick-on ones. Is it completely dark outside when you go out and move them in?

 

[Tonyroo]

Your coop looks to small for 9 chickens and no room for roost bar.

 

[Goose_the_cat]

Hope you find a way to get your chickens in at night and welcome to byc