Question about getting chickens to bed

[3KillerBs]

When I first started reading this thread I thought, yeah this sounds typical. Even more so when I read it was an elevated coop. I have a lot more trouble with this if the coop is elevated than a ground level coop. I think that's because until they start sleeping on the roosts they like to sleep in a group on the low spot. The low spot for me is under the pop door. My solution is to consistently lock them in the coop at night until they learn to put themselves to bed up there. My broods are typically around 20 chicks. I had one group put themselves to bed up there after only one night of putting them to bed up there. A couple of times it took three weeks for the last few to learn to go in. Each group is different but it's not unusual for them to all learn to go in after a week to 10 days.

Then I read this.


They don't go to bed until it is getting dark. The signal to them to go to bed is that it is getting dark. I wait until they have put themselves to bed under the pop door to start putting them inside. They are a lot easier to catch if it is dark enough that they have already settled down for the night, though the last ones seem to wake up.

I think you taught them where to sleep a long time ago but haven't been giving them a chance to do it themselves.

This. Exactly.

I find it nearly impossible to get my birds herded into the coop before it's full dusk.

 

[texsuze]

My four girls are now 12 weeks old. At 6 weeks I moved them into their new home at the barn: large predator-proof run (free-range during the day), elevated/ventilated coop with 2-level roosting area, fans, etc. They've had ramps, limbs, proper roosts to use since Day 1 and are very proficient about navigating all.

However, they refuse to go into the coop at night. They prefer to roost squashed together on top of the nest box compartment which is external to the coop. For the past 7 weeks (SEVEN WEEKS!) during my nightly "nite check", I've been picking them up and placing them inside the coop on the roost. I don't want to close them in the coop, as I want them to be able to go out when they want in the mornings. So, my girls have obviously not been reading the manual on when they should go in to roost on their own.

Last night I did nite check about 30 min early. They hadn't flown up to the roof of the nest box when I arrived at the barn, but once they heard me, WHOOSH, everyone landed up there. I had to wait until it got darker to then move them inside. Tonight I might just wait until well after dark to see if they'll go inside on their own. Might be another 2 months, until we get out of this heat bomb, before they decide to enter the coop graciously under their own steam!

 

[Missyschix13]

This. Exactly.

I find it nearly impossible to get my birds herded into the coop before it's full dusk.

I agree if it's not close enough to dusk, it's like herding cats. Lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

However, they refuse to go into the coop at night. They prefer to roost squashed together on top of the nest box compartment which is external to the coop.

How dark is that coop? Do they have enough light from windows to see to go to bed? Some people have had success by putting a small temporary light in there about dark time so they can see. It doesn't always work but something to consider.

 

[Iluveggers]

My four girls are now 12 weeks old. At 6 weeks I moved them into their new home at the barn: large predator-proof run (free-range during the day), elevated/ventilated coop with 2-level roosting area, fans, etc. They've had ramps, limbs, proper roosts to use since Day 1 and are very proficient about navigating all.

However, they refuse to go into the coop at night. They prefer to roost squashed together on top of the nest box compartment which is external to the coop. For the past 7 weeks (SEVEN WEEKS!) during my nightly "nite check", I've been picking them up and placing them inside the coop on the roost. I don't want to close them in the coop, as I want them to be able to go out when they want in the mornings. So, my girls have obviously not been reading the manual on when they should go in to roost on their own.

Last night I did nite check about 30 min early. They hadn't flown up to the roof of the nest box when I arrived at the barn, but once they heard me, WHOOSH, everyone landed up there. I had to wait until it got darker to then move them inside. Tonight I might just wait until well after dark to see if they'll go inside on their own. Might be another 2 months, until we get out of this heat bomb, before they decide to enter the coop graciously under their own steam!

Is the roof of the nest box higher than the roost bar inside? Chickens will gravitate to the highest accessible point.

 

[texsuze]

Plenty of light inside the coop. Interior painted white, windows at ceiling level all around, beautiful sunsets visible so everyone knows when the sun goes down.

Nest box compartment is probably 6" taller than the highest interior roost, but it is on the outside of the coop, with roof slanted downward.

Once it is dark enough, and I've extracted them from the outside roof and placed them inside the coop (on roost bar), they settle immediately. My goal is for them to walk up the ramp on their own at nighttime and sleep inside the coop. I'll keep going as I have been, for a while.

 

[cp2894_]

When I first started reading this thread I thought, yeah this sounds typical. Even more so when I read it was an elevated coop. I have a lot more trouble with this if the coop is elevated than a ground level coop. I think that's because until they start sleeping on the roosts they like to sleep in a group on the low spot. The low spot for me is under the pop door. My solution is to consistently lock them in the coop at night until they learn to put themselves to bed up there. My broods are typically around 20 chicks. I had one group put themselves to bed up there after only one night of putting them to bed up there. A couple of times it took three weeks for the last few to learn to go in. Each group is different but it's not unusual for them to all learn to go in after a week to 10 days.

Then I read this.


They don't go to bed until it is getting dark. The signal to them to go to bed is that it is getting dark. I wait until they have put themselves to bed under the pop door to start putting them inside. They are a lot easier to catch if it is dark enough that they have already settled down for the night, though the last ones seem to wake up.

I think you taught them where to sleep a long time ago but haven't been giving them a chance to do it themselves.

That makes sense thanks for the reply. I was thinking 9 pm was already too late for them to go to bed and just assumed they needed to keep being shown where to go. I guess I've just been wasting time chasing them around their run for several weeks lol. When winter arrives, will it mess them up when it gets dark before 7? That's several hours earlier than they go to bed now. Will I need to add artificial light until 9pm each night? I read they need a certain amount of daylight to lay eggs each day. Sorry I know it's a little unrelated but I was just thinking about it.

 

[cp2894_]

I agree if it's not close enough to dusk, it's like herding cats. Lol

Yes! I'm so glad I made a post about this. Otherwise I'd still be chasing them around their run to put them to bed lol

 

[cp2894_]

Plenty of light inside the coop. Interior painted white, windows at ceiling level all around, beautiful sunsets visible so everyone knows when the sun goes down.

Nest box compartment is probably 6" taller than the highest interior roost, but it is on the outside of the coop, with roof slanted downward.

Once it is dark enough, and I've extracted them from the outside roof and placed them inside the coop (on roost bar), they settle immediately. My goal is for them to walk up the ramp on their own at nighttime and sleep inside the coop. I'll keep going as I have been, for a while.

Maybe it's a problem with the ramp? Have you seen them use it on their own throughout the day?

 

[3KillerBs]

When winter arrives, will it mess them up when it gets dark before 7?

No, they don't read clocks so they just go to roost at dusk whenever dusk happens.