How to tell chicks to go to bed?

[classicsredone]

Quote:
This is exactly what we did. I gave them some dried meal worms as a treat for the first few nights, and then they figured it out on their own.

 

[ajay]

I put my girls in the coop for 2-3 days straight. The next day after letting them out all day, when it got dark they immediately walked over in a group and put themselves to bed. It's pretty cute to watch them put themselves to sleep. There is no messing around at all. They walk straight in, go up the ramp, hop on the roost and that's it. Not even a peep. I wish my kids were as good!

 

[AlexKilpatrick]

OK, I tried the night light in the coop, and it didn't seem to have an effect. They were all asleep in a heap outside in the run, right next to the door. Luckily, when they are in this state, they are really easy to pick up (I don't know why).

I guess I will keep trying and hope they learn.

 

[wowmanacat]

I let all my chickens free range in my yard. Before I let the free range I keep them locked up for a few days. I had to herd them in for the first two to three night around 6 pm. Now I just let them go till it is time for them to and they go right in at dark. I do have a run also so that I can keep them locked up if I have to. I hate to have to lock up all the chicken when I have new little ones out there. This is one of the reasons that I am going to be building a new outside play yard for the littles that are in the house now for they are 5 week old and I have to get them out of the house for they stink.
I try the treats and that just will not get all 14 of them int he coop/run at the same time.
I also have three that like to escape in the morning so they got name after a magician that was famous to being an escape artist. Harry, Harriet and Harrietta.

 

[Hinotori]

I lock mine in the coop for a few days with light, then let them out into the run. I leave the light on in the coop for several days to a week past that. My EE girls all put themselves in. The silkies fought it a bit. They huddled down in the run the first night. I had to climb in and haul them out to put to bed properly. The second night they were against the outside of the coop. Scooped them up and put them to bed again. Day three they finally caught on. Then when they were moved over to the coop with the EE girls, they refused to go to bed in there for the first two nights and I had to put them to bed again. I have some rocks and brahmas I'll be dealing with soon.

Now, I do have the EEs and Silkies trained to go into the coop when I say "IN". They wouldn't take a bribe the first day I let them free range, so I got the net and had the dogs helping circle them up while I kept saying "IN". They apparently caught onto that really fast. If I come up and start commanding them, they rush to get in. Now I give them a treat after they are in to help encourage them. I was really surprised with how smart they are.