New chicks won't go into the coop!

[Rorie]

Hopefully the right section to post this in...

We put our chicks out into the run and coop last Friday. We put a heat lamp in the coop and switched it on at night to ease the transition from the house to the coop.

Not one night have the chickens gone into the coop themselves! Every night i need to climb into the run and 'chuck' them into the coop (nicely of course!), shutting the door before doing the same with the next one. They keep trying to jump out! I had hopped that the heat lamp would encourage them to stay in there!

So, is this normal? Why don't they want to go into the coop?! In the mornings when we open the door they all RUN to the food and water....Maybe something to do with it?

 

[McGobs]

Not sure if this was the right way...but I went from the brooder, then put them in the coop without access to the run for a couple weeks of course they had their lamp and everything they needed. I just wanted them to get used to the coop and make it home. 3 weeks I did that for I think. After that, I let them into the run. Then they just started using the coop automatically.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

How old are they?
I had to put mine in the coop the same way you did for about a week... then one day I was busy and went out to put them in the coop and they had already gone inside.
I was just putting them in earlier than they wanted to goto bed.
Now like clockwork they are in bed at 8:45pm.
I ALWAYS put them through the pop door so they learned that was the way to go.
Hope that helps.

 

[pinkaliboo]

I left my chicks in the coop for only 3 days and nights and then let them out. Then when I built the new coop I did the same thing. They knew after the 3 days that the coop is where they go at night, no problem.

 

[Rorie]

They are about 9 weeks now i think off the top of my head. I do wonder if its just too early for them - normally arond 9/9.30pm i am putting them in and its still daylight here at that time!

I will wait a week longer and see how they get on, but if that doesnt work, should i try locking them in for a few days? Seems unfair after thay have had free run of the....run haha

 

[dave425]

we are totally new to chickens but about 2 1/2 weeks old they were off the heat lamp in the garage. i know everyone says to have a heat for however long.. but i watched the chicks and everything was looking good. they are now about 3 1/2 weeks old, and about 2 days ago at about 8:30 pm we put them in the coop for the first time, for the whole night. in the morning let them into the run... at about 8:30pm the first night after being in the run all day... all of them were up in the coop sitting at the door looking into the run, i think they were watching the sunset. lol. but again, that is just how i did it.

 

[Rorie]

Well i went out to see them this afternoon and the little buggers were in the coop! haha. So they have now decided its a good place to be

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Mine hovered and blocked the pop door for a few days. I had to push their fuzzybutts in before I could close and lock it. They are 12 weeks now and have, just within the last maybe 2-3 weeks, started going ALL THE WAY IN... without a nudge.
Silly chickens!!

I do keep water in the coop on hot nights.