How to coerce chickens in their coop

[JessicaPoff]

We have 14 new chicks or should say chickens by now as they are close to laying age. They are a pain to get gathered up in the coop. They are with our older girls all day and do well and they do well when they are in the coop. But trying to get them from the yard to the coop is a horrible pain. Been over a couple months now, and each passing evening, it is a chore. We can spend a good 40 mins outside chasing chickens. They will not put themselves up, we have to for some reason do it manually. Any suggestions? This evening in the pouring rain, we tried to gather up the chickens. The older girls went into the coop, no issue, but the little ones gave us a run for our money as we got drenched and very muddy. I don’t know what else to do. 14 young chickens, this is hard.

 

[nuthatched]

Are your older girls letting them in? Is there enough room? Does your coop have windows? Have you tried a night light?

 

[JessicaPoff]

Are your older girls letting them in? Is there enough room? Does your coop have windows? Have you tried a night light?

no night light as there is no where to plug it in. Yes, there is windows at the top. Coop is plenty big and yes, the big girls leet them in. They get up on the platforms to roost

 

[Logar]

no night light as there is no where to plug it in. Yes, there is windows at the top. Coop is plenty big and yes, the big girls leet them in. They get up on the platforms to roost

Do you have any camping lanterns or something similar?

 

[GlicksChicks]

no night light as there is no where to plug it in.

Maybe use some solar powered lights that charge up during the day and turn on at night?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Where are they trying to gather up for the night in lieu of the coop?

 

[JessicaPoff]

Where are they trying to gather up for the night in lieu of the coop?

In the lot they are in apart from the coop. We go right before night and make sure they are put up. The older girls are, and at times some of the other new girls will follow but there is a good amount that will not. They run around in the lot and will not go through the door of the coop.

 

[JessicaPoff]

Do you have any camping lanterns or something similar?

No, but would putting lights out give them the impression that it is not bedtime yet?

 

[aart]

How long have you had these birds?

The light just needs to be small, I've used a battery powered puck light, it will draw them in to the coop as it gets darker outside.

 

[Lils Roost]

I have 1 year old hens and recently moved them to a new and much larger coop/run. The new surroundings left them unsure and hesitant to enter the coop. I remembered what I read on here previously about using light. So, I went to my local discount lot store and got a set of solar mini holiday lights ($4.99). I put them up on the outside of windows opposite from the door to the coop. When they came on, the ladies were drawn to them. Give it a try; it worked for me.