How to get birds to go back into the coop?

[matt1898]

Well. Tonight was the 3rd night or so of the birds being allowed out of the coop. We also built a better ladder for them to be able to get in and out. However, 13 of the 15 just stayed huddled up UNDER the coop(2 made it inside), in the pine shavings that had fallen through. I picked them up individually and put them back in. It seems they don't quite understand what the deal is, lol.

Thoughts?

 

[amnich]

When we were first training our chicks to go in their coop, we would skip their morning meal and feed them at night instead. This way, when they see the food, they follow it to wherever you put it. They are very visual animals, so they all need to see the food to figure out what is going on. We would put the food in the coop, through the door they are supposed to go through, and they would go right in. Eventually, they started going in by themselves without us having to lead them in with food. Now they tuck themselves in at night when it starts to get dark, and all we have to do is lock them in. It gets a lot easier, don't worry!