I Can’t Get Their Rear Ends Out of the Run At Night!

[Mamatomany123]

You actually calculate square footage of things by multiplying, not adding, so it’s a 10.5 square foot coop. Then the run is 22.5 square feet, but they free range all day anyway,

Oh gosh, yep, that's on me been up with a newborn all night. Forgot how to math

Is there a way to add more ventilation? I would be tempted to just let them sleep in the run. Looks secure enough.

 

[restinpeacenyla]

Help! I cannot get my Silkies to go into their coop at night! They free range during the day, and they go into their enclosed run with no problem in the evening, but they want to stay in the run, not go in their coop! I have tried adding a light in the coop to lure them up, I have added an extra window to increase ventilation and maybe catch a breeze or two (I’m in Texas, so I thought maybe it was too hot up there for them with the weather being well over 100 during the day), and I just started feeding in there in an attempt to get them to want to go up. Nope, so far I guess they’re happy with all the bugs and such they find in the yard during the day! And yes, I did lock them in the coop for a few days when I first put them in 10 weeks ago (they are now 21 weeks), but they prefer the run.

Last night I decided to start manually putting them in the coop in the evening, but that’s a real pain the butt to do since it involves me on my hands and knees pulling them out of the under-the-coop run (I am never building a run that isn’t “people height” again, btw—lesson learned) and manually sticking them in the coop, one by one. Do you think this will help, or is there something else I should do?

The only real reason I care whether they’re in the run or the coop at night (both are very secure from predators) is because they are nearing laying age, and I want them to use the nest boxes instead of laying all over the yard, like I fear they’re gonna do! They really like snuggling up against my tool shed during the day, and I am afraid they’re gonna make little nests there that I will have a hard time finding.

For reference, here is my coop:
View attachment 2233099

View attachment 2233100

Sorry, I know the pic is terrible—iPad photography is not a talent of mine. The actual coop is 3.5 feet by 3 feet (not including nest box area, which is another foot) and the run is 5 foot by 4.5 foot. It has a long window on the side facing the shed and then the small window for cross breeze. I have 5 bantam Silkies in it, and they free range during the day

ive had the same problem before! you just need to get them into the habit of doing it! maybe take something to make noise and scare them into the coop (that has worked for me). check inside the coop, is there enough room? is it warm enough? how is the pecking order going? is anyone injured etc. just have a general inspection. maybe take some grapes and lure them in.

 

[Mamatomany123]

You actually calculate square footage of things by multiplying, not adding, so it’s a 10.5 square foot coop. Then the run is 22.5 square feet, but they free range all day anyway,

Also, its 9.5 sq ft then. We both mathed wrong

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

My dogs used to have to be walked over to the run to scare the chickens in at night lol. Only Livia went in though, smart chicken. The others were like, dudes, you weigh like 15 pounds lol.

 

[AllenK RGV]

You actually calculate square footage of things by multiplying, not adding, so it’s a 10.5 square foot coop. Then the run is 22.5 square feet, but they free range all day anyway,

For silkies the square footage general purpose isn't really a concern. They are a docile breed with minimal space requirements. Mine would be happy scrunching up in 3 square foot of space at night if I didn't have my excess bachelors out of their bachelor pad right now and back in general population.

 

[aart]

Can you explain what you mean by this? How would I build it? The coop has large windows on the longer sides you can’t see from the picture, so it gets a breeze. Would you suggest removing a side of the coop and making it hardware cloth?

More pics, please.
Yes, wire walls.

But a hardware cloth side would be better than just windows, you think?

Yes. That little window is nothing as far as ventilation.

Get a couple thermometers, put one in the coop and one in the run, see what the temps are. ...then switch them around to double check.

 

[SilkieMitch]

Could you show the other sides windows? Then we get a better idea of how much venting you have.

If the other side is fully open with HC you look fine. I would be sure to place a thermometer inside those laying boxes on a cloudless sunny day and verify it never goes over 110F in there at any point during the day. That will advise you better than I ever can. I don't stress one bit watching my silkies getting rained on they do just fine with it and they look great in that soaked hairstyle. Mine usually free range the day too and this time of year they try and avoid sunlight and forage in the shade.

Also, its 9.5 sq ft then. We both mathed wrong

It actually is 10.5 cause you multiple the half foot as well, but I know what you mean—I am sooooo bad at math I only know it’s 10.5 cause I use a calculator for everything!

 

[SilkieMitch]

Could you show the other sides windows? Then we get a better idea of how much venting you have.

If the other side is fully open with HC you look fine. I

The other side isn’t fully open, it just has windows running down the length. NO MAKING FUN OF MY HORRIBLE LOOKING WINDOWS! . Me and the jigsaw were not getting along that day.

 

[SilkieMitch]

More pics, please.
Yes, wire walls.

So then I guess I might as well just put a nesting box in the run? Having some wire walls would make it no different from the run, really, since the run is right up against a shed and is underneath the coop, making it roofed and shaded. (Note: they don’t stay in the run during the day. It’s just for bad weather and nighttime, so it’s not used all that much except to go get water from.)

note: again, sorry about how shaded the pics are. My stupid iPad doesn’t want to take a good pic of the inside of the coop. It doesn’t like “indoor” photos at all.

 

[AllenK RGV]

The other side isn’t fully open, it just has windows running down the length. NO MAKING FUN OF MY HORRIBLE LOOKING WINDOWS! . Me and the jigsaw were not getting along that day.View attachment 2233249

Were it me I would open up that entire side. My coops run almost 50% vented. Since I have to go in there too.