Light in Coop

[OvertheHenHouse]

What a cute photo - and what a cute set up! I didn't realize you couldn't lock them in at night - sorry about that. Can you get in there at dusk to pick them up and put them in their coop like KarlaMaria suggested? Do it at dusk when they're falling asleep and they 'should' stay there. The light may attract them to the coop but I've never had to do this so can't really say. A chicken needs light 14 hours/day in order to lay. If you don't have that where you are, then you'll probably want to add the light.
Good luck - what kind of girls do you have?

 

[happima]

So I put them up in the coop once it got dark, just as a trial. They happily stayed there and didn't walk down the ladder. I wasn't planning on leaving them outside tonight, but they've quieted down and seem quite content in there. Tonight seems as good a night as any to make the move. I'm doing it without heat and without light. The 7 week old Easter Egger is completely feathered out and the other two 6 week old chicks are pretty much there - just a little fuzz left on the head and chest.

Hope they do ok. Weather shouldn't get below 55 tonight.

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

That's great! They need to know where 'home' is, and it sounds as though you let them know tonight. Glad they're happy in there...and that they're not all clustered in a corner of the run!

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

PS - you might want to put an outdoor thermometer in there, just so you know what the temperature is...

 

[Arielle]

Glad to see you are finding your answers. Just a note about the lights. When I put in lights for any reason I DOUBLE attach them to reduce fire risk. CLearly the heating lamps are much hotter but I still worry. THe light neede to promote laying is a very low wattage of white light.

Glad the girls are comfortable with their new housing. GL