New Jersey

[Lorraine436]

Thank you Chickobsessed, NJChix and Shadow Rabbit 10 for your help!! I was trying to figure it out by looking at pictures of specific breeds but I just couldn't make them out. I'm having such a good time with the hens - they are very entertaining. I've gotten some very good advice from Backyard Chickens

 

[Lorraine436]

Thank you Chickobsessed, NJChix and Shadow Rabbit 10 for your help!! I was trying to figure it out by looking at pictures of specific breeds but I just couldn't make them out. I'm having such a good time with the hens - they are very entertaining. I've gotten some very good advice from Backyard Chickens

 

[NJchixs]

Hello everyone. Monmouth County here. I have 6 chickens that are approx 7 weeks old and I have 7 newer chicks that are about 1 week old.
This is my second flock. I put the older news out in the pen and coop as of Sunday. They do not like the coop at night. I forced them in, but tonight I just. Let them do what they wanted and they are outside the coop in the pen. Do you think eventually they will get the idea on their own? Has anyone ever had chickens that just refuse to go in the coop ever?

Welcome! Got yourself a bakers dozen there. Mixed flock or anything special? My big girls lately are refusing to go in the coop at night. They are roosting on some branches on the run instead. I wouldn't mind them staying out but I lock them up and don't let them out till 8 so my rooster doesn't bother anyone. Although this week he has decided to follow the pattern of a cuckoo clock :/ They probably won't get the hint unless you put them in at night. Do that for several days in a row and they should go on their own.

 

[sunnychooks]

Hello everyone. Monmouth County here. I have 6 chickens that are approx 7 weeks old and I have 7 newer chicks that are about 1 week old.
This is my second flock. I put the older news out in the pen and coop as of Sunday. They do not like the coop at night. I forced them in, but tonight I just. Let them do what they wanted and they are outside the coop in the pen. Do you think eventually they will get the idea on their own? Has anyone ever had chickens that just refuse to go in the coop ever?

Hi redlinda1!

At this point I would go out after dark, pick them up and put them on the roosts. This is when they need to learn where they should go at night. If you have predators in your area it is essential for them to be protected.
It never takes more than a few nights before they start to get the idea. At first, only a few will go in on their own but it won't take too long before they will all go in by themselves as it starts to get dark.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Hello everyone. Monmouth County here. I have 6 chickens that are approx 7 weeks old and I have 7 newer chicks that are about 1 week old.
This is my second flock. I put the older news out in the pen and coop as of Sunday. They do not like the coop at night. I forced them in, but tonight I just. Let them do what they wanted and they are outside the coop in the pen. Do you think eventually they will get the idea on their own? Has anyone ever had chickens that just refuse to go in the coop ever?

Welcome! That is a predicament... I have never had an issue with this because I started my chicks off young... At 4 weeks old, I let them outside for the day and brought them back to the brooder by hand (a big pain in the butt!). Then, when they were ready for the coop, I would let them outside in a pen all day long, and put them in the coop at night. They were not allowed in the coop during the day. After about a week of doing this, I gave them all day access to the coop and their pen. They learned that the coop was their home, and returned every night. (At first they would sleep in the nest boxes though, but one night they slept on the roost, and have isn't inured to do so.) maybe you could try a plan similar to mine? It worked out great for me, and since yours are still young, you can break this bad habit before it becomes permanent.

 

[mame1616]

Hello everyone. Monmouth County here. I have 6 chickens that are approx 7 weeks old and I have 7 newer chicks that are about 1 week old.
This is my second flock. I put the older news out in the pen and coop as of Sunday. They do not like the coop at night. I forced them in, but tonight I just. Let them do what they wanted and they are outside the coop in the pen. Do you think eventually they will get the idea on their own? Has anyone ever had chickens that just refuse to go in the coop ever?

My friend has the same problem with some of his birds, but he lets them stay where they want. However, his run is very secure, so he doesn't worry. The secure run is the key. Other than that, you'll have to put them in every night until they get the idea.

 

[NJchixs]

Ugh so hot today, but I have to say it's better than those frigid days. I sat out in the back watching the girls for about and hour or so. Fed them all some scratch and then started to doze off in the chair. Then the Mosquitos came around, made me itchy and then I thought how this peace will be ruined when those cicadas come out. Yuk! Is anyone seeing them come out of the ground yet?

 

[shadow rabbit10]

No. I love cicadias though. Their sounds are so relaxing! They're really cool looking too.

 

[NJchixs]

No. I love cicadias though. Their sounds are so relaxing! They're really cool looking too.

Shadow we all know you have exotic taste, lol. It sounds like the jungle here sometimes- bugs, birds, tree frogs & spring peepers. Soon cicadas.

 

[Milesofsmiles]

Ugh so hot today, but I have to say it's better than those frigid days. I sat out in the back watching the girls for about and hour or so. Fed them all some scratch and then started to doze off in the chair. Then the Mosquitos came around, made me itchy and then I thought how this peace will be ruined when those cicadas come out. Yuk! Is anyone seeing them come out of the ground yet?

We have them terrible in our yard. I have holes everywhere, it is super gross! I don't mind hearing them its what comes with a Jersey summer, but seeing them all over is not fun for me. I am always confused by the Cicadas, you hear they only come out every 7-10 years but as far back as I can remember we have always had them here in NJ every summer.