I have new chicks! Come follow as they grow.

[Pampered chicken girl]

Maybe. But @Pampered chicken girl's chickens are more like pets to her, so I don't think she will want to do that.

They are and I don't want them scared

I just chuck them in for a few nights. Eventually they learn if they don't want me touching them, to go in the house before I get there

Problem is I have gotten them to like me holding them and I don't want them to think when I grab them I am going to throw them in a dark coop.

 

[NatJ]

Problem is I have gotten them to like me holding them and I don't want them to think when I grab them I am going to throw them in a dark coop.

Then pick them up, and gently sit them in the dark coop. It still gets them used to sleeping inside.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Then pick them up, and gently sit them in the dark coop. It still gets them used to sleeping inside.

When I put them in they ran out.

 

[NatJ]

When I put them in they ran out.

Huh?

If it's after dark, put them in one at a time: grab a chick, open the door a little ways and put it in, shut the door, go grab another chick. They don't have a chance to run back out that way. It sometimes works in daylight too, but they are more likely to run back out in daylight than after dark.

Don't waste your time trying to put them on roosts if they're trying to get back out, just sit them on the floor right inside the door and leave them to figure it out from there.

 

[WIchickMama]

I think she leaves her coop doors open, so if they want to come out they will, unless you close them up for a couple days @Pampered chicken girl.

Cant wait to see pictures

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Huh?

If it's after dark, put them in one at a time: grab a chick, open the door a little ways and put it in, shut the door, go grab another chick. They don't have a chance to run back out that way. It sometimes works in daylight too, but they are more likely to run back out in daylight than after dark.

Don't waste your time trying to put them on roosts if they're trying to get back out, just sit them on the floor right inside the door and leave them to figure it out from there.

I don't close the coop door at night, the run is predator proof. All the rest of my chickens go in their coop at night and stay there. I don't like closing the door at night

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I think she leaves her coop doors open, so if they want to come out they will, unless you close them up for a couple days @Pampered chicken girl.

Cant wait to see pictures

Yes, my coop is not big enough for feeder and waterer so it's open to the run. I will get pictures today!

 

[NatJ]

I don't close the coop door at night, the run is predator proof. All the rest of my chickens go in their coop at night and stay there. I don't like closing the door at night

In that case, there's not much point in putting them in, since they are free to come out again. Either put them in and shut it every night until they learn, or just accept that they will sleep wherever they want.

I thought you were trying to get them to sleep inside for safety (secure coop, insecure run.) But I was obviously wrong there.

Does the secure run have a solid roof? If so, it's probably fine to let them sleep there all year if they want to. If it doesn't have a solid roof, I can see that letting them sleep out in the rain could be a problem.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Yes, my coop is not big enough for feeder and waterer so it's open to the run. I will get pictures today!

You shouldn't have a feeder or waterer in your coop anyway, it's for sleeping in not eating in. Chickens are good sleepers, they'll be fine to wait for food until the next day..

 

[NatJ]

You shouldn't have a feeder or waterer in your coop anyway, it's for sleeping in not eating in. Chickens are good sleepers, they'll be fine to wait for food until the next day..

I agree that chickens do not need to eat during the night.

But is the rest of your statement meant to apply specifically to OP, or to all chicken keepers? (I don't remember where OP lives.)

If you mean it to apply to all chicken keepers, I say it is wrong for many of them.

I live in the USA, which has many areas where chickens spend all day inside the coop during the winter. In those conditions, the coop needs to be large enough for them to spend their time while they are awake, and it also needs to have food and water inside.

There are many good ways to house chickens, and no method is "best" in all climates, so what you suggest may be good in your climate and some others. But I've always lived in places where a chicken coop DOES need to be big enough for food, water, and daytime activities.