need help getting the chickens to go in

[txmel]

i have 4 cochins that are about 7-8 weeks old now. they are in the grow out pen and coop, outside. they have been in the coop since they were about 5 weeks old. i kept them in the coop for about a week then opened up the pop door for them to go out into the enclosed run area ( its kind of a tractor design) now they go in and out all day long but at night they all clump together in the corner of the run under the ladder to get into the coop.i have been putting them in the coop at night but they are kind of hard to catch and they always run under the coop were its hard to get to them when i reach in to pick them up. last night i decided to see if they would eventually go in on their own and from what i can tell they spent the whole night out in the run

. how do i get them to go into the coop to roost at night.

thanks any suggestion very much appreciated

 

[amyseggs]

Hmm...I know with my hens, as soon as it's dark out, they naturally go inside their coop ready for "bedtime". It's like an internal clock, they just know. If for some reason there is no food or no water, they will not go in and wait until I bring it out to them. As "teenagers" when I first put them outside, I kept their food and water in the coop part all the time so they got used to going in and out and up and down the ramp. They were new to the whole outside with two different living areas thing, so they were confused at first and I did have to put them in the coop at night for about a week. They are also in the habit of getting their coop door shut when it is dark out. I think it's a comfort thing. Just my experience.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I think it is the age cause mine would rather clump up in a corner then go into the coop as well I used to put them in after it got dark maybe it easier to catch them but that didn't work they still didn't go into the coop so I started to go out about an hour before it got dark and put them into the coop (I would lure them in with treats) I did this for about a week or so now they do it on there own but when I do go otu to lock them up I take treats with me so they know it is all good and if they do good they get the treat.
Try this it works for me I hope it works for you.

 

[txmel]

thanks i'll give that a try

 

[DAFox]

I would feed them inside the coop when you want to shut the door. They'll get the hang of it eventually.

Dale-Ann

 

[chicmom]

Such good suggestions. I have the EXACT same problem, and it's so hard to catch them....I'll try the bribing with treats idea too!

 

[Chick CJ]

I did the treat thing too. I sprinkled sunflower seeds up the ramp. It worked like a charm, my girls are wild for them! You could try placing something like a large piece of cardboard to block the area under the coop when you are trying to catch them.
CJ

 

[txmel]

i like the idea of the cardboard gonna have to find some to do that with tonight, any suggestions on treats, i'll have to go to the store for sunflower seeds or i guess i could pick them out of the wildbird seed i have might take a while though so maybe not.

 

[TexasChickenDance]

Hi texmel....I live in Medina. I never had a problem with our hens going in. I bought a metal dish that you use for a cat or small dog. It's shiny so when the chickens saw it all I had to do was tap on it and they would come running. Most of the time I would give them leftovers from the fridge. Now they put themselves to bed and I go out around 8 to count heads and close the coop.

 

[txmel]

hey neighbor, i didnt have this problem with my other chickens its just this group, i'll have to see if we have any leftovers between my 3 kids and hubby not much gets leftover

i dont know if the chicks are trying to see where the other chickens went (they have a view of the other coop, run and the big chickens) or what? its very frustrating that they go in and out all day,their food is in the coop, but wont go in at night. when they are placed in there i have to keep shutting the pop door to keep them in while i get the others or they walk back out

. in the morning when i let them out they are all up on the roost.

i just dont know.