Hi All Im Danny and a New Chicken Owner here.

[Dann]

I have 5 chicks 8 weeks old and just moved them to their coop. It's 4'x8 and is off the ground about 2'. I installed a 10' x 4' x 4' wire run so they can get out doors. They stayed in the coop for a week to adjust and just recently open the door to the run. The problem is they won't go back into the coop at night. Any thoughts?

 

[ronmauldin]

Welcome from the Ocean State! Give them a little time. Normal to it to take up to a week to all go in at sunset. Try leaving a light on in the coop after sunset for a while. That helps to draw them in.

 

[Dann]

Thanks ronmauldin I'll give that a try.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X2 if your coop is dark leaving a light on for a short time at sunset helps. Do they go in and out of the coop during the day no problem?

 

[drumstick diva]

Glad you joined the flock. I agree with a light on - you could set it to go on at dusk and maybe stay on 20-30 min. to give them time to straggle in. Do you have a roost that is low enough for them?That may get the point of roosting at night IN the coop into their heads.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

It helps to lock chicks up in the coop for a couple of days so they are not only comfortable in there, but know where home is and will always return at night to roost.

Enjoy your new babies and welcome to our flock!

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! X2 the above.

 

[Dann]

The chicks stayed in the coop for a week before I opened the coop door. When first opened they would walk down the ramp 3/4 of the way the run back into the coop. Now that they have hit the dirt I can't get them back in without rounding the up which is a major pain. There are roost in the coop 1 at 10 inch high and one at 2 foot with a ramp to them that they do use sometimes but for the most part they sit on the floor of the coop. I'll get a timer for the light I have in their and see what happens. Should I leave food and water in both the coop and the run?

 

[dikbiscuit]

Welcome to the site. I'd recommend leaving them in the coop for a week or so more and not letting them out so they get the idea that the coop is home. I personally wouldn't put food or water in the coop unless they're going to be locked in there, otherwise I'd just stick water in the coop and keep the food and more water in the run. Good luck. :')

 

[gander007]