New chickens not entering enclosed part of coop at night

[Jennifer B.]

I had to replace my old flock and brought home 15 new chickens this evening. We have an enclosed part of the coop where they can roost at night and the nesting boxes are also in there. We leave the light on from early evening till 10:00. None of the new chickens went in tonight. They are protected where they are and have a covered run, but would prefer to lock them up at night. Has anyone else had this problem and is there a way to get them to go inside from now on?

 

[mixedbreeds]

I had that happen with my first flock. I ended up locking them in the coop for about a week and then opened up the run after that they New where they were supposed to roost.

 

[Jennifer B.]

Thank you, that’s a great suggestion. I’ll try that. It is suppose to rain tomorrow, so maybe they will stay in the covered “outside area” and find their way into the enclosed part. Might make it easier to block the entrance to the run too. Lol

 

[mixedbreeds]

I fought it with that first group a long time ago it wore me out puting them back in every night. It worked very well after a week they wanted to all go inside to roost.

 

[aart]

maybe they will stay in the covered “outside area” and find their way into the enclosed part.

Take the 'maybe' out of it, go out after dark and move them from the run to the coop, then keep them locked in for a week to 'home' them to the coop.
Hopefully your coop is big enough and well ventilated enough for this to be 'comfortable' for 15 birds.

 

[50-45-1]

Are you sure they have enough roost space?
Also the more dominate birds may not be allowing the timid birds to roost.
Only you will be able to determine the problem by observing at roost time.

 

[Jennifer B.]

I was hopeful tonight that they would go in, because it rained all day yesterday and they went from huddled right inside the door to roosting. All but 2 of them were up there this morning when I went to open it up. Then tonight they are all inside the covered part of the coop (not out in the run), but will not even let me shew them in so I can lock them up.

 

[Jennifer B.]

Take the 'maybe' out of it, go out after dark and move them from the run to the coop, then keep them locked in for a week to 'home' them to the coop.
Hopefully your coop is big enough and well ventilated enough for this to be 'comfortable' for 15 birds.

We have a couple of screened doors to ventilate it in the summer. Just wish they would go into the part I can completely close up.

 

[aart]

but will not even let me shew them in so I can lock them up.

Gotta pick them up...hands around body to hold down wings.

 

[Jennifer B.]

Well, it took both my husband and me to get them all in, but we did it. Lol Sure hope they start catching on soon!