My Chickens Won't Sleep Inside The Chicken Coop! :(

[TwinCedarFarms0]

I'm new first off and i'd like to hear a few opinoins on how to get my darn chickens to sleep in the coop I just spent 2 months on trying to build for them. At first they stayed in alot because we didn't have a fence in the back. The reason why is because we hesitated on building it until we didn't have much time left so we had to ruch to get them inside the coop and out of the brooder! Any way , When we got the fence up they didn't immediately take notice to the place outside that they could get to, but we started showing it to them and they were amazed I guess and just didn't like being COOPED up in a little building, well I say little building. It's a 12 by 16 building that I would love to live in if I was a chicken, but i'm not to keene on the idea of them being free range because of having to find the eggs everywhere when i'm cutting grass or something to that nature. Also, I don't like the idea because of the predators where I live: Bobcats, Coons, Posums, Foxes, Coyotes, etc. I guess what my question is: What do you guys/gals think i need to do obout this situation?

Thanks,

TwinCedarFarms0

 

[chickenmaniac]

i would lock them in the coop for a week so they get used to sleep in it, put their food and water in the coop and add something to perch on if you havent already.

 

[kitten6566]

I agree with chickenmaniac. You should put their feed and water in there so then they will go in by themselves to eat. Or every night go out and catch them and put them in the coop on a perch. I had to do that with my seven and they free range. Good luck with that situation.

 

[TwinCedarFarms0]

We've tried that for a day or two and their food is inside but their water is outside. They just never seemed to want to stay inside. Although I could try to put thing inside for them to perch on and see how that works!

Thanks,

TwinCedarFarms0