Returning Home to the Coop

[cnicho05]

Hello,

Over the last several weeks I built a temporary chicken run for my Rhode Island Red's, Jersey Giant's and Sebright chickens. Attached to the side of the chicken run is their coop where they will spend a minimum of a few months before transitioning into a larger run/cup which I have prepared. Because of the cold nights we are still having in Michigan I want to make sure that my ten chickens return to their coop...and stay out of the run...at night. Since they are still young, about six weeks old, I am concerned they will stay in the run and get too cold.

Is there any method of easily training chickens to return to their coop? Should I be worried about this?

P.S. I have heard that you can place a light into the coop and turn it on as it transitions into the afternoon. The information I've read says this will help the chickens find their way back to the coop...


Here is our 7-Day Forecast to demonstrate the cold nights we have over the next week...

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Lots of people use the light trick with success. I just pick them up and place them in the coop until they figure it out on their own (which is a pain if you've got to pick up a lot of them). They're usually going in on their own in a few days. Another thing I do, with larger groups, is toss a little scratch or feed into the coop just as its getting dark. They all run in to eat the treat and I just close the door, easy peasy.

Good luck.

 

[cnicho05]

Thanks for the suggestion...