How long until chickens go into coop on their own?

[DuckDuckSook]

Hi there! My 8 week old chicks are outside in their coop and run now. I put them to bed every night around 7:30/7:45. I have to chase them a bit around the run, corral them into one part, and pick each one up individually to get them into the coop for the night. I know that over time they will be trained to just go in there on their own. How long does that typically take? They are getting more comfortable with me picking them up and putting them in the coop, but I think it would be less stressful for everyone if they would just go in there on their own. Any tips, advice, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I did try to entice them in there with some mealworms as a treat and they didn't go for it. I still had to pick them up and put them in there. Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Chickens are like kids. They like to stay outside and 'play' until it is nearly dark. Leave them and watch to see if they go in by themselves. It may just be that they are not ready to go to bed.

 

[Mtnboomer]

My free range gals that are 8-9mos old, are on the roost by 730pm this time of year like clockwork. The younger birds,about 6 mos old hang out until after 8pm.
It always seems that way. The youngsters like to party and the "old" people are in bed early.
Treats/rewards in combo with sound training can be successful. Place food or treats in the coop at the desired time and use a sound or word like "bed time!" Repeat this for a week or so. Soon they will be waiting on you for the treat.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Did you try locking them up for a few days when you first moved them outside? I've never had an issue convincing chicks to just take themselves in at night, by doing that first.

 

[Organic Gal]

I had the same concern when I first put my chicks out at 9 weeks. The first day they stayed in the coop I didn't let them out. The next morning I let them out in the run. At 7:30pm when I thought they would go to bed by them selves they didn't, so I put them in myself for two nights. The third night I waited to see what they would do and they went in at 8pm and have been like clockwork every night since then. They are 11 weeks old now. I think yours will go in on their own. Let them alone and see if they do.

 

[Willow2253]

My adults go to bed at like 6, the 7 week olds don’t go to bed until 7:30-8. We put them in the coop until about a week and a half ago and then just let them go in on their own. The last few nights of putting them away I was just picking them up and sticking them through the chicken door, so they figured it out pretty quickly.

 

[Cturber]

I locked mine up a couple of days in coop. I've never had to put them up. My adults hens are on roost by 7:15. The 8 wk olds by 7:45.