Pullets won't go into coop

[misshell]

My cousin and I got chickens together. Her father is a great contractor and built her a beautiful coop/run. The only thing is, her pullets (and one cockerel) won't go inside the coop. They sleep at the top entrance just outside the coop door all piled on top of each other. Is there anyway to lure them inside?

 

[Flockincrazy]

My cousin and I got chickens together. Her father is a great contractor and built her a beautiful coop/run. The only thing is, her pullets (and one cockerel) won't go inside the coop. They sleep at the top entrance just outside the coop door all piled on top of each other. Is there anyway to lure them inside?

It might be to dark or not enough ventilation my guess is ventilation my first coop was like that so i cut windows in it with a Sawzall my husband said it was funny to watch when I tore that one down I built this one and my flock loves it

 

[M Brennen]

Maybe try putting a small light inside when it starts getting dark and then shut it off when they are all inside.

 

[maryn7]

If they've never gone in, they may not realize it's their house. You may want to try a lock in to get them to associate the roosts inside with their nighttime routine (search for the term; lots of threads).

If they've gone in previously, but have stopped - then you might have the problem I had (mine started roosting on the back porch). Thanks to folks here, we realized it was either a ventilation or lighting issue. We set up a rope light on a timer, and also installed a dual-fan in one of the windows - it circulates the air and makes it cooler in the coop. I think my girls just preferred feeling the breeze in their feathers, so we supplied that in the coop, and they're all happily piled up inside.

Good luck!

 

[drinkoj]

My younglings did that too; favorite roost spot. Luckily I had some older chicks that already learned the coop was where they slept.

My suggestion is to lock them in the coop a day or two (as long as there is good ventilation, that's important) and after that if their still not going in, go just before the sun sets and toss the chickens in the coop and lock it up. Then let them out in the morning. They'll start to get it after a week or so.

 

[Lovem all]

I had trouble with mine too at first, I just had to herd and push them in for a few nights. You can also lock them in for day so they learn it's not such a scary place

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Like some others here, I had to herd them into the coop for about a week. After that they got the idea that the coop was their place to sleep and they go in on their own as soon as it gets dusk outside.
The added ventilation and nite-lite ideas are good too.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Physically perching them until they get the hang of it will probably do the trick. Make sure they are able to see the perches; adding a window for additional light if needed.

 

[misshell]

Thanks for the advice! I was stumped why hers aren't going in and mine totally get it. But now that I think of it, I would place mine inside the coop before sunset and would lock them in. Now they just go in on their own. She has ten 18 week old chickens, three children under the age of four, plus runs a daycare AND she is 6 months pregnant. I'm gonna have to go over there and give her some help putting her chickens in their coop.

 

[Lovem all]

that would be really nice of you. You'd only have to do it a handful of time and it'd really help her out