How do you teach chickens to roost in their coop?

[Mike Winters]

i have some 4 week old chicks that i put in a coop at night. I leave them in for a few hours in the morning so they get the hint that the coop is their new home.

so how do i teach then to go in at night because pretty soon they are going to be to big to herd all 6 in a small animal cage and transport them into the coop.

they have the fly out of the coop in the morning when i open the door down pat, now if they could just figure out how to get in the coop for themselves with out me needing to herd them.

 

[chicklover16]

You don't have to teach them, they learn on thier own. let them sleep in there for a couple of nights an they will get the idea.

 

[Imp]

Lock them in the coop for a few days to a couple weeks. They will learn that the coop is their home.

Imp

 

[ECBW]

No need to over think it. Their natural tendency is to sleep (roost) at the highest point. Put them into the coop overnight, they will find that spot, sometimes in the rafters or places you do not want them to be.

They will also come into the coop at dusk by themselves. If you need to herd them in during the day, try luring them with treats.

Work with it and everything will fall into place. Work against it and you will be pulling your hair out wondering if your batch is "defective".

 

[WI FarmChick]

When I moved our chickens to their temporary coop, (we are building a larger one) they were 4 weeks old at the time.

I had put up some roosts for them.... and just last week they all are now using the roosts. they are 7 weeks old.

They were huddling on the floor in the corner before this.

I also had some short branches in their brooder when they were little.