- Sep 4, 2013
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I've read a few other posts with similar topics, but I'm still a little unclear as i am new to chickens.
I got two 17 week old golden comets (just started laying at the end of August) and they are fantastic and i love having them. However, they won't go inside the roosting area at night.
I have an A-Frame style coop. There is some outside space at one end, and a ramp that leads a raised and enclosed nesting area at the other. There is some space to walk underneath the nesting area too. Then outside the chicken wire door that leads from the outside area of the coop, i have an approximately 35'x7' run for them.
I've had them 4 days now and they won't go into the nesting area of the coop for anything.
The 1st day, when I brought them home, i plopped them in the run, and we all had a grand time.
The 1st night i made a nearly fatal mistake by waiting to long to see if they went to bed. They made a break for it and roosted in a tree out of sight. Luckily they come back in the morning.
The 2nd day, after retrieving them from a tree, they spent the day in the run.
The 2nd night, I locked them in their coop, thinking they would figure it out, but they choose to spend the night on the ground under the nesting area. No good.
The 3rd day, after reading up on it, i kept them in the coop all day, no run time.
The 3rd night, I bought a night light to illuminate the dark nesting area. I put the light in several hours before bed time, but they payed no attention to the nesting area. Around bedtime they stated to panic a little bit, and got very vocal, wondering around the coop trying to get out. I locked them inside.....only after having to physically put them in. I returned a few hours later to turn off the light, and check on them. They were both huddled together in one corner on the inside.
Today was the 4th day. I let them into the coop area in the morning, but again, no time out in the run, just keep them in the coop all day.
Tonight, it was the same ordeal. I left the light on all day with some food and water up there hoping it would draw them in during the day and they would see that it was safe. I can't lure them up the ramp for anything, I've put treats up the ramp and at the top, I've physically put them up there and they just run back down the ramp if its not closed off.
This problem isn't a huge problem right now, however, when it turns winter and its dark by the time I get home from work, I want to my chickens to be safe and warm and go to bed by themselves.
They already identify me with food, and they usually come running when they hear me getting close.
I guess, my question is a multi-parter.
1) Should I continue with putting them in the nesting area all night and locking the door?
1.5) Should i continue to include water and food for overnight? or should they be good.
2) Is keeping them in the coop all day while I'm away ok/better for now? They can wonder around its not like they are cramped, but they enjoy the run so much, i feel bad. i want them to be happy.
3)Is there anything I'm not doing that I should be?
I've been learning alot from this site. Its been a great tool so far.
I got two 17 week old golden comets (just started laying at the end of August) and they are fantastic and i love having them. However, they won't go inside the roosting area at night.
I have an A-Frame style coop. There is some outside space at one end, and a ramp that leads a raised and enclosed nesting area at the other. There is some space to walk underneath the nesting area too. Then outside the chicken wire door that leads from the outside area of the coop, i have an approximately 35'x7' run for them.
I've had them 4 days now and they won't go into the nesting area of the coop for anything.
The 1st day, when I brought them home, i plopped them in the run, and we all had a grand time.
The 1st night i made a nearly fatal mistake by waiting to long to see if they went to bed. They made a break for it and roosted in a tree out of sight. Luckily they come back in the morning.
The 2nd day, after retrieving them from a tree, they spent the day in the run.
The 2nd night, I locked them in their coop, thinking they would figure it out, but they choose to spend the night on the ground under the nesting area. No good.
The 3rd day, after reading up on it, i kept them in the coop all day, no run time.
The 3rd night, I bought a night light to illuminate the dark nesting area. I put the light in several hours before bed time, but they payed no attention to the nesting area. Around bedtime they stated to panic a little bit, and got very vocal, wondering around the coop trying to get out. I locked them inside.....only after having to physically put them in. I returned a few hours later to turn off the light, and check on them. They were both huddled together in one corner on the inside.
Today was the 4th day. I let them into the coop area in the morning, but again, no time out in the run, just keep them in the coop all day.
Tonight, it was the same ordeal. I left the light on all day with some food and water up there hoping it would draw them in during the day and they would see that it was safe. I can't lure them up the ramp for anything, I've put treats up the ramp and at the top, I've physically put them up there and they just run back down the ramp if its not closed off.
This problem isn't a huge problem right now, however, when it turns winter and its dark by the time I get home from work, I want to my chickens to be safe and warm and go to bed by themselves.
They already identify me with food, and they usually come running when they hear me getting close.
I guess, my question is a multi-parter.
1) Should I continue with putting them in the nesting area all night and locking the door?
1.5) Should i continue to include water and food for overnight? or should they be good.
2) Is keeping them in the coop all day while I'm away ok/better for now? They can wonder around its not like they are cramped, but they enjoy the run so much, i feel bad. i want them to be happy.
3)Is there anything I'm not doing that I should be?
I've been learning alot from this site. Its been a great tool so far.