My spoiled chicks love their coop & run but insist on sleeping in the house. How to change their wa

[jmockbee]

I have two-Buff Orpingtons and one Welsummer. Two are a little over 6-weeks old and one is a little over 7-weeks. They were raised indoors entirely for the first three weeks or so. Since then, they have spent all day in their chicken run and coop. They just love being out there and in the morning they are clamoring to get out of their box in the house. As long as it is light out, they do not want to come in. However, by 7:30 or 8p they begin calling to come in. If I do not bring them in, they will not go in the coop, as they do during the day, but instead will crouch in the corner of the run that is closest to the house and wait for me to get them. When I come out they are so excited that they almost jump into the small box that I use to transport them inside. While it is still light out, it is almost impossible to get all three of them in the box. How can I break this habit. They are so sweet that I cannot bring myself to just leave them out there waiting but they are getting too big to be in the house. I would appreciate any suggestions. I am new to all of this.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They're creatures of habit and want to sleep where they always have. When they crowd the fence at dusk, put them in the coop and close the door. After sleeping in there 3 or 4 nights, they'll adopt that as their new sleeping quarters.

 

[ShockValue]

Agreed. You need to teach them that the coop is now "home". Ours were raised in our garage for about 7 weeks. When the coop was ready they were locked in there with no access to outside or anywhere else for about a week.

After that they've put themselves to bed every night after a full day of free ranging. I just wander down at dusk and close the door behind them.

 

[Blooie]

Tongue in cheek here, they're not insisting on coming in, you are insisting on letting them come in and kinda blaming them for it. ChickenCanoe is absolutely right - although in your case it might take more than 3 or 4 times to break you of the habit of giving in.

They'll be fine, I promise. You, on the other hand, may need a glass of wine or two the first few times. I know - I spent one entire night getting up all night and going out to check on them - and it was in the 20s - a little nippy for jammies, a robe, and snow boots. The second night I checked on them one or two times, and after that I realized that they were more comfortable than I was! My warm bed was in the house and there I was, standing in the snow to look in on them. <sigh> So I get it, I really do.

 

[bobbi-j]

They're creatures of habit and want to sleep where they always have. When they crowd the fence at dusk, put them in the coop and close the door. After sleeping in there 3 or 4 nights, they'll adopt that as their new sleeping quarters.

X2

And...

 

[subhanalah]

Tongue in cheek here, they're not insisting on coming in, you are insisting on letting them come in and kinda blaming them for it. ChickenCanoe is absolutely right - although in your case it might take more than 3 or 4 times to break you of the habit of giving in. They'll be fine, I promise. You, on the other hand, may need a glass of wine or two the first few times. I know - I spent one entire night getting up all night and going out to check on them - and it was in the 20s - a little nippy for jammies, a robe, and snow boots. The second night I checked on them one or two times, and after that I realized that they were more comfortable than I was! My warm bed was in the house and there I was, standing in the snow to look in on them. So I get it, I really do.

haha, yes this! I wanted to bring mine in every night but it got to the point that they were turning into full sized chickens!

 

[ShockValue]

Tongue in cheek here, they're not insisting on coming in, you are insisting on letting them come in and kinda blaming them for it. ChickenCanoe is absolutely right - although in your case it might take more than 3 or 4 times to break you of the habit of giving in.

They'll be fine, I promise. You, on the other hand, may need a glass of wine or two the first few times. I know - I spent one entire night getting up all night and going out to check on them - and it was in the 20s - a little nippy for jammies, a robe, and snow boots. The second night I checked on them one or two times, and after that I realized that they were more comfortable than I was! My warm bed was in the house and there I was, standing in the snow to look in on them. <sigh> So I get it, I really do.

I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one doing that. I went out 2 or 3 times per night for the first few nights. I think my flashlight in the window was more bothersome to them, so eventually I learned to leave them alone.

I still miss them being in the garage though... After the wife and kids and dogs and cats and fish were all asleep, I would always go out and spend some "chick time" feeding them little treats and letting them sit on my lap to watch MythBusters (we skipped the chicken-gun episode, I didn't want to freak them out.)

 

[bustedchicks]

In situations like these it makes me wonder if the chickens are smarter than the human.

 

[subhanalah]

In situations like these it makes me wonder if the chickens are smarter than the human.

not really, they actually WANT to be in the coop at night, they are happier there but they don't know that.

 

[jmockbee]

I want to thank each of you for your wonderful responses. They were just what I needed to hear. I followed your advice, waiting until twilight and picking them up one at a time to put them in the coop. This was easier said than done. They carried-on like children and tried their best to push the doors open, but quickly quieted down as I came into the house. They were happy to see me at 5:30 in the morning. However, I think now it may take them awhile to be comfortable about going in there during the day. So far today, I have only seen two of them go in briefly.

I like your responses so much that I am saving them.