My chicks are afraid of the coop (the inside)

[Shelly_WNC]

At 6 weeks I put my 11 SLW chicks in the coop. They did fine with the red heat lamp on. The next day I took out the heat lamp because the temp showed 90 degrees in the morning and I thought that was way to hot, so figured they would be fine. I built a attached run but mainly leave the run door open so they can free range. They stay close to the run and go in and out of the run area as they want.

At dusk they all seem very content to roost on the coop ladder. BUT seem extremely bothered when I coax (or put ) them inside the coop through the 13x14 pop door. They seem very afraid to be inside the coop. When inside they all huddle in one corner. I have feed and water in there, but they stay in the corner. I am thinking they are afraid of how dark it is in there (seeing they had the red lamp on all there lives - all 6 weeks of it LOL).

Has any one else experienced chicks afraid of the coop or afraid of the dark?

 

[PunkinPeep]

I don't think chickens can see very well in the dark.

Mine don't want to go in if it's dark either.

I have a light set on a timer. It comes on an hour or so before dark and goes off an hour or so after dark.

When it starts to get dark outside, chickens naturally go toward light, so going into a darker area is not natural for them.

With the light i have, i have no problems getting them inside. They put themselves to bed, and i just close the door.

 

[dacjohns]

I haven't had a problem but my coop has fiberglass roof panels that let the light in. When dusk starts approaching they head for home and have enough light inside to find their roosts.

Do you have a window in your coop? If you don't one might help.

 

[Shelly_WNC]

I have two nice size windows actually, but It does seem dark in there nonetheless.

We have no electric to the coop area, but my boyfriend mentioned some battery powered lights. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow.

 

[dacjohns]

Maybe they need a little training to let them know they're supposed to go inside and use the roost.

Help them through the door if they don't know how to use it yet. Once they're inside place them on the roost. It might take a few days but mine did get the hang of it.

 

[herefordlovinglady]

is that white poll going across the coop your roost? how high is it? i know mine had trouble getting onto the roost because it was too high (at five weeks old) so i put a ladder and a couple of 5 gallon buckets with a board across to help the chicks get to the roost. otherwise they would stay in the cage brooder where the lower roosts were. now at six weeks they stay on the high roosts in the coop. just a thought, i don't if that helped with getting them in there but maybe the don't want to go in because they have no where to roost....

 

[Shelly_WNC]

I do help/train each chick to 'walk the plank' (LOL) into the coop thru the pop door. You think I need to start earlier before it gets dark?

Yes the small white bar is the roost and it is 2 1/2 feet off the ground. They can't reach it yet. Today I am going to make lower ones to see if they can at least hop up to the low one and then maybe hop up to the higher one.

My chicks seem to just love the freedom of finally being outside, after the brooder. But I have to ensure they are safely tucked away in their coop - no telling what lurks in these woods.

I really appreciate every ones advice - thank you!! I didn't expect they would be afraid of their coop.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I think 6weeks is very young. You might need to 'lock' them in their coop for a while until they learn that's home. It might look like dark, strange place to them.. If you have a small flashlight, try turning it on about 30 mintues before dark. And help them get in for a few weeks. After they get older and get used to the coop area..it will feel safe and feel like home...

 

[CityChook]

When my chickies were babies and I turned off their light for the first time (also at 6 weeks), they were afraid of the dark, too. And they were in the house. My house. They'll be okay. I'd put them inside their house and close them in for a couple of days. Go out at dusk (not pitch dark) and put them on the roost. They'll learn.

If you still have access to power out there, maybe turn on a night light for them? I found that having a dim light on at night helped my girls adjust. Baby steps.

I agree - your roost looks a little high. Maybe lower it a bit, or put something inside that they can jump from?