i dont know what to do

[chickenmama109]

my chickens will not go back in there house when it gets dark
they all go in the same spot out side the coop i have to put them in
i dont know what i should do

 

[SunHwaKwon]

How old are they? Is it a new coop or has something changed? When this is a new setup you usually have to help them figure out where to go at night for a few days and then they catch on.

 

[zephyricle]

Go out just before sun down and put them in instead of waiting until dark. They can't see after the sun goes down, so they don't know where you are placing them.

 

[chickenmama109]

thanks and they are 3 months old they got out of the brooder a couple weeks ago

 

[ChickenChaser9]

Quote:
That is stll very young. They need to imprint on the coop, you can help them by putting them in there once it starts getting dark. They will get the hang of it pretty soon. Best wishes!

 

[Kyanite]

Yup, just echoing what the others have said. Young chickens don't know the routine yet and haven't made the place home. Help them for a few days by putting them in and out after sunrise and before sunset and they will get the idea. Treats can be a big help. The will eventually do it on their own. Good luck with the new chickens!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve never kept them in the brooder that long, but it sounds like pretty normal behavior, especially if your coop is elevated. I usually transition mine at 5 weeks, but even if I leave them locked in the coop for a week they always go to bed on the ground after I let them out. I have to do what you are doing, toss them in the coop at night after it gets dark enough to pretty much just pick them up.

I normally do broods of around 15 to 20 chicks at a time. Sometimes they catch on really quickly and start going to bed on their own, once I only had to do all 16 once and they went in on their own after that. I’ve had some go three weeks before they caught on. What is more normal is that after a couple of nights one or two go in on their own with more each night after that. Usually they are all going in on their own after a week or so. But it can drag out much longer than that.

Sounds normal, but yes it is a pain.

 

[chickenmama109]

thanks to all