How do I get my new chickens to stay in the house at night?

[sunnyysideeggs]

So recently I got 13, year old Rhode Island Reds and I need to get them to stay in the chicken house because there are a lot of predators. We built a little addition to our old coop because we are afraid our old chickens won't like the new ones. Our chickens are free rangers but we do close them up at night. How can I get them to stay go in the house at night?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

13 years old? wow!
about your issue, i don’t usually lock my chickens up, but best of luck in finding a solution. @aart

 

[SilverBirds]

Dang, 13 years! What does your setup look like? When getting new birds, I don't let them free range for the first week or so so that they know where their home is. This may not be possible for you depending on your setup.

 

[DParker75089]

I'm betting "13 year old Rhode Island Reds" means 13 RIRs that are each a year old, not a group of 13 year-old birds.

OP: I'm confused. If you have predators you have to be able to keep them out of the coop/run the chickens are in, which implies that you can keep the chickens in. What am I missing?

 

[DavidReaves]

I'm guessing that you meant 13, year-old RIRs.

I haven't even hatched my chicks yet, but I've been reading (Edit) about chickens for years. You are probably going to have to take them into the coop physically, or attract them with a little food is my bet-- I've read that you should leave them in a coup for a few days before releasing them to range.

 

[SilverBirds]

I'm guessing that you meant 13, year-old RIRs.

I haven't even hatched my chicks yet, but I've been reading for years. You are probably going to have to take them physically, or attract them with a little food is my bet-- I've read that you should leave them in a coup for a few days before releasing them to range.

I didn't even think do read it like that, haha!

 

[DavidReaves]

I didn't even think do read it like that, haha!

I edited my comment to be clearer. I wasn't being snarky about my reading experience.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Is the problem that they aren't putting themselves in at night? New chickens need to be physically put to bed a few nights sometimes. If they are leaving the coop then there is a problem with your coop.

 

[saysfaa]

Can you post some pictures of the coop? Inside and outside.

 

[sunnyysideeggs]

13 years old? wow!
about your issue, i don’t usually lock my chickens up, but best of luck in finding a solution. @aart

Whoops! I meant that I got 13 chickens that are a year old. Thank you!