My chickens are afraid of the dark!

[mr_dave]

I recently moved my young birds outside to their new coop. I've kept a heat lamp on so they can always come get warm. I turned it off for the first time today, since it was a pretty warm day. Came out at dusk to check on them, and this is what I found! I tried to nudge a few through the door, but they would have none of it! Plugged the light back in and they happily went in for the night.

Any suggestions for weaning then from this light when they seem scared of the dark?

 

[Ducksandchickens]

My chickens have always been scared. I don’t know if you can keep them from wanting to be inside. It’s natural for poultry to want to go in the coop at night because it’s dark and predators are ou

 

[mr_dave]

My chickens have always been scared. I don’t know if you can keep them from wanting to be inside. It’s natural for poultry to want to go in the coop at night because it’s dark and predators are ou

That's not the problem. I wanted them to go in for the night. But they refused to go in until I turned in the light. They were dead set on roosting on the porch

 

[Ducksandchickens]

That's not the problem. I wanted them to go in for the night. But they refused to go in until I turned in the light. They send dead set on roosting on the porch

Oh my bad. Most of read the thread wrong!

A lot of people get timers on there lights so at night they will turn on. Will that help ?

 

[4 ever Orpington]

View attachment 1380121 I recently moved my young birds outside to their new coop. I've kept a heat lamp on so they can always come get warm. I turned it off for the first time today, since it was a pretty warm day. Came out at dusk to check on them, and this is what I found! I tried to nudge a few through the door, but they would have none of it! Plugged the light back in and they happily went in for the night.

Any suggestions for weaning then from this light when they seem scared of the dark?

 

[Ducksandchickens]

That's not the problem. I wanted them to go in for the night. But they refused to go in until I turned in the light. They were dead set on roosting on the porch

You can buy timers at your local feed store or online

 

[Zinjifrah]

Leave the light on, let them go in, close them in for the night and then turn it off.

 

[PirateGirl]

Leave the light on, let them go in, close them in for the night and then turn it off.

X2 on the light, just put it one to lure them in and then shut it off once all inside. Eventually they will go in on their own without it.

Also in your photo it's still pretty light out. I have a hard time getting mine to go to roost until it's darker than that.

 

[llombardo]

I had a young stray rooster last fall. Like clockwork he would cross the road and go in a tree to roost at 5:30 when I came home from work. Once I figured out what he was doing I would walk him across the road.

I couldn't believe the instinct he had, I can only hope mine don't give me problems.

 

[Peeperscreepers]

My chicks are also afraid of the dark. They spent their first night outside last night and were terrified. I felt so bad and wanted to bring them back in but at some point I have to let them be chickens...right? LOL. They are still scared tonight but it's better than last night. I gave them a led stick on light (Pretty dim)last night so they werent so scared.