Pullets won't go in at night

[Buddy2biddies]

I have had my chickens for 5 days now and am having no luck getting them to go up the ramp to coop at night. One did go up once since she was the last one and heard the others inside. That was the only time though. When its dark they all get under the coop and i have award time going around to put them in. They have no problem going out in morning. It is in the 90's here so don't think its a good idea to lock them up for days.
This is extremely aggravating. I tried cracked corn and bread.

HELP!!!!

 

[mrchicks]

First off, welcome to BYC!

Little ones don't know that they are supposed to go in at night. You will need to actually put them to bed at night for the first week or so. Some birds get it within a day or so, but I've had some take up to two weeks. Wait until dusk, then pop them all inside. After a while of waking up there, they will figure out that they need to go to bed at dusk.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I've had some that were nearing laying age before figuring out how to put themselves to bed at night. Some just prefer being out, too. It's an individual thing on just how long it takes to get through to them to go to bed.

 

[SixChickFlock]

I introduced mine to their new indoor home by gently taking them off their outdoor roost late at night, one by one, and placing them on the new indoor roost in the same order they were in outside. I am able to keep the pop door open all night, so they were able to leave the new house at the crack of dawn without the frustration of waiting for me. They returned to the new space all on their own the next night, and have been ever since.

Your gals will figure it out!

 

[creepygothnursi]

You will have to actually take them and put them in the coop at night for the first few days or so. Chickens are not the brightest of creatures and seem to pick everywhere to sleep but where you actually want them to, so you will need to wait until dusk (probably not full dark so they aren't quite settled in to where you don't want them to be), grab them and put them in the coop. After several days of waking up in the coop they will get the picture and go in there of their own accord. My coop initially did not have a pop door on it, so with no way to force them to remain in the coop they refused to go in and formed a big pile in a corner of the run for any predator to just waltz right up to the fence and grab! I had to build a pop door, grab them and shove them in for about a week, and then they got the idea.

 

[Michael Apple]

When you consider chicks being accustomed to a light source up until they go to the grow off pen, a dark place will not be inviting and they stay outside until the sun goes down completely. If they can get under the coop, that will certainly make it difficult. Put some temporary or permanent skirts around the coop to keep them from going under it. If you can safely rig a light fixture in the coop, put a small wattage light in there and turn it on just before sundown. I've found that makes it much less stressful to the young birds getting accustomed to a new environment, and less annoying for you. Some breeds are more high strung, like Leghorns, and will pile up against the wall in a corner. You don't want them injuring or killing each other in a panic. Leave the light on while you shut them in for the night. Once they settle down, turn off the light.

 

[donrae]

How old are they? Sounds like they're fairly little still, not roosting yet. If your run is predator proof, I would just let them sleep where they are. When they're developmentally ready to roost at night, they'll start seeking higher places to go.