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tomfish78

tomfish78

In the Brooder
Jun 28, 2015
12
1
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Belfast
I have just bought 6 Sussex hens 10weeks old will have them in a permanent run but can't get them to go into there house at night thy lay cuddling in the run and I have had to lift them in to the coop so I have just.at this min locked them up for a day or two am I doing the right thing help needed
 
They don't see in the dark, and inside the coop is darker than outside. Once the light levels are too low, they don't know where to go. And cannot judge the jump to a roost in the dark.

Try placing a light in the coop and turn it on just before dusk and they should start going in on their own. Just a regular low wattage bulb will work, set it up so you can unplug or use a remote operated outdoor cord so you can turn it off easily once they enter and find a roost position. This worked for me when mine were moved from the brooder to their permanent home. It was quite a challenge to move them in every night, but the first night with the light they all marched up the ramp to roost. We used the light for a couple of weeks and after that they would enter at dusk without the light.

Once I had a pullet caught in the dark laying an egg very late. She came out and went out to the dark run and was really distressed. I shined a flashlight thru a window into the coop and she happily ran up the ramp, got on her roost and settled in with the flock.
 
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That’s pretty typical. They don’t know where home is or what they are supposed to do. You’ll probably need to keep doing that for a while until they learn.

My brooder raised chicks normally start to roost at night around week 10 to 12. Some have been a lot earlier and some a lot later, but 10 to 12 weeks is fairly normal. They will perch during the day but that’s not actually roosting at night. Until they start roosting they sleep in a pile somewhere low. It sounds like your coop may be elevated. I find that makes it even more likely they will want to sleep in the run.

You can try locking them in the coop section only for a week or so to try to get them to think of the coop as home, but I do that and still usually have to put them to bed at night like you are doing. I have had some learn where to sleep after doing that only once, some have taken a couple of weeks to learn. Each brood is different and do their own thing. Just be patient and consistent and they will learn.
 
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My coop is on the ground inside the run so that don't need to walk up a ladder.I did watch them go into the coop in the day time but when night came that just lay in a heap at the edge off the run but I have put a light into the coop that were locked up all day yesterday I let them out this morn so will try the light tonight.on another note I keep racing pigeons and I think sometimes I should try and train them like I do with my young birds when that get out of other loft for the first time but then again chickens are abit different to pigeons lol but will keep you lot informed how I get on thanks for the help and the welcome
 

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