One chicken won't go in coop on her own if there is no light, the other four know to go inside - how

[Chickadee mama]

We have five young chickens between four and five months old: one plymoth rock, one buff rock, one partridge rock bantam, and two bantam silkies. Everyone knows to go into the coop on their own when it gets dark excpet for our oldest, the partridge rock bantam. She roosts on top of the coop and I have to coax her onto my hand and then I put her in the coop. If we put the light on inside the coop ( we run a extension cord with light bulb affixed temporarily ) then she goes in on her own. I have kept the light off the last week in hopes she will go in on her own, but no luck. Any suggestions would be most welcome!

 

[Whittni]

Repetition seems like your best bet. Eventually your little hen's instinct will kick in to roost above the ground and in a safe area. Mother hens usually teach this but without a mama hen you have to teach her to sleep in the coop on the roost until she gets the memo.

Welcome to BYC...I'm Whittni one of the Coloring book Graphic editors.

 

[Chickadee mama]

Thank you. I had forgotten she still needs some training as she is so young and never had a mother to show her.