Please help - How to put chickens to bed?

The only thing different about how I used hardware cloth around the run was to run it a full 3' of it along the bottom 3' of the run where it meets the ground. I then laid 3' of chicken wire on the ground to hopefully prevent digging predators. I have the chicken wire pinned/staked with garden stakes and stakes made from wire coat hangers.

I look at them staying out at night in this way...they have a coop to go into at night, if they want. If they decide to sleep outdoors then they must be comfortable with that. Our Banty Mottled Cochins have just started laying a week ago and I'm amazed at how many of the flock are in the coop during the day, it's almost like a cheering section, for the laying gals. If they hang out in the coop during the day, they know where it is at dark-thirty. I do keep a line of self-colored red tube lights on at night in the coops...more for me than the birds but I like to think that they appreciate it too!

We also have an Australian Shepherd who knows it's her job to keep the chickens and rabbits safe. She loves her job! We let her out into our yard (we live in the country) when she wants out and she's always in the yard. She used to roam (at her first home where we adopted her from) until she came to live with us and we gave her a job to do (rabbits & chickens).

I can't sleep right now...going to see the bank about a Harley tomorrow and just too excited!!!

Dawn
 
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Mine are desparate to go in their house at night, they freak out if they can't get in.

I don't understand how peoples chickens don't always go inside if given the choice, but it seems that different flocks have different ideas on alot of things they arn't supposed to.

They should lable them when you get them.

"chicks that want in" "chicks that don't" etc ...
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Ha ha!
Well, we'll see what happens tonight. I just visited the girls and they are starting to get back to their friendly selves again.

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. None of my books explain how to transition chicks from brooder to coop - it sounds like it just happens, but obviously it doesn't for me.
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Silkiechicken - I can't believe some of your chicks hang outside when it's so cold!!! I definitely shouldn't be worried about our 40-50 degree nights!

Good luck getting your Harley, Dawn!!

Thanks again everyone. Keeping my fingers crossed for this evening!
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UPDATE:
This evening I went out to the coop to turn on the light in the roost box to see if that would entice them in. Guess what?! The girls were all lined up on the ramp up to the box. They weren't going in, but the fact they were lined up blew me away!
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So I turned on the light, and you know, they went right into their roost box. I closed the door and all is well!
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I can't tell you how relieved I am and am just baffled at the sudden change in behavior. No complaints.
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Thanks so much everyone for the advice and helping me out!!! I have now survived week 1 of having my babies out in the coop.
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