Leaver Her Be or Bring Her In?

[lmdengler]

Good Evening All -
I have a large 6x8 walk in coop, a 12 ft or so enclosed run and then another TSC coop at the other end. In essence two coops with an enclosed run between them. The run has a roof. All summer a couple of the chickies would fly up to the support beams inside the run and perch for the night.

Now that are temps are are sinking to the 20's most nights, the gals who have perched on these beams still insist on perching there instead of coming into the coop.

Here's my question - should I go outside each night and bring them into the coop? Or leave them alone and let them figure it out? I posted a pic here pointing out where they are perching.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Try putting them in the coop for a few nights, maybe for a whole week, and see if they get the idea. If not, probably they don't mind the cold.

 

[lutherpug]

Seeing that you're in upstate NY, I would be more concerned about what happens when the temps inevitably drop below zero. They may not mind it so much at 20 degrees but it will surely get colder and I would think you'd rather have them retrained now as opposed to trying to do it later. I've never had chickens roost outdoors before so I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to what is "too cold" but I would start getting them retrained to the coop at night. Lock them in for several nights and see if they get the idea. If they don't, put a light in the coop and turn it on before dusk-this should lure them into the coop. Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

Chickens are habitual, they have the outside habit. I agree, stick them in for a few nights, and I bet they will be in there come the third or 4th night.

Mrs K

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

I agree with the others, you need to lock them in the coop for 4-5 days and see if they get the idea. If not try again and again until they get the idea.

 

[aart]

Do you think I should close up the hatch door during the winter time? I have 21 chickens in a large walk-in View attachment 1593023 coop my husband built last winter.

I think the problem is too many birds for your 6x8 coop. Plus am guessing that the beams in run are higher than the roosts in coop, they like to be higher.

And not sure if that 21 includes these 5 new chicks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/labor-day-chicks-outside.1281596/

Might be able to let them sleep in the run area if you've 'winterized' it by covering most the walls(leave top 4-6" open for ventilation) with clear plastic to block wind and snow.

 

[lmdengler]

I think the problem is too many birds for your 6x8 coop. Plus am guessing that the beams in run are higher than the roosts in coop, they like to be higher.

And not sure if that 21 includes these 5 new chicks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/labor-day-chicks-outside.1281596/

Might be able to let them sleep in the run area if you've 'winterized' it by covering most the walls(leave top 4-6" open for ventilation) with clear plastic to block wind and snow.

There are actually 2 coops and the run between them - so I think there is a lot of room for them. It just seems to be the one cream leg-bar and one sex-link that seem to want to hang out - outside. The five chicks and my tenderhearted hen are in their own chicken house and run. I have a total of 27 chickens and 3 chicken houses. I'm going to start bringing them in at night and see if they get the idea.

 

[aart]

I have a total of 27 chickens and 3 chicken houses. I'm going to start bringing them in at night and see if they get the idea.

Oh....didn't see the third coop.
Putting them into coop after dark might work,
blocking access to the run beam/roosts would definitely help.

 

[lmdengler]

Oh....didn't see the third coop.
Putting them into coop after dark might work,
blocking access to the run beam/roosts would definitely help.

I'm going to try and take a picture of the setup.