Rise & Shine! What's your schedule?

[3KillerBs]

If you call* and give them tasty food in the coop when you want to lock up , they will come as quick as they can to get locked up early.

They'll come to the fence for treats, but even a trail of scratch up the ramp has failed to get them into the coop until they're ready to roost.

 

[BDutch]

They'll come to the fence for treats, but even a trail of scratch up the ramp has failed to get them into the coop until they're ready to roost.

Maybe the scratch is not good enough? Or you’re coop is to dark? Do you have a window in the coop? If so then I bet that if you throw some mealworms in the coop before their usual time to roost and you do this every day for a whole week, they come home earlier.

 

[3KillerBs]

Maybe the scratch is not good enough? Or you’re coop is to dark? Do you have a window in the coop? If so then I bet that if you throw some mealworms in the coop before their usual time to roost and you do this every day for a whole week, they come home earlier.

I own the only chickens on earth who don't love mealworms. I never bought a second bag because they ignored them -- preferring to eat weeds outside in their run instead.

The coop has plenty of light and they go into the coop to roost just fine. They just won't go in until they're ready for bed and sometimes that's later than I'm ready for bed.

 

[The Moonshiner]

No backyard chicken set up here.
No coops so no doors to open.

 

[BDutch]

I own the only chickens on earth who don't love mealworms. I never bought a second bag because they ignored them -- preferring to eat weeds outside in their run instead.

The coop has plenty of light and they go into the coop to roost just fine. They just won't go in until they're ready for bed and sometimes that's later than I'm ready for bed.

You’re chickens aren’t alien? Are you sure you have real chickens? If so what breed are they?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

You’re chickens aren’t alien? Are you sure you have real chickens? If so what breed are they?

Mine don't like mealworms either, I have Marans and Wyandotte's right now.
Mine prefer cracked corn.

 

[3KillerBs]

You’re chickens aren’t alien? Are you sure you have real chickens? If so what breed are they?

Crazy, aren't they?

I guess the dried bugs in the bag can't compare to the fresh stuff out in the run.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Just curious what time everyone let's their chickens out in morning?

I leave for work at 5:15 am five days a week, I open coops at 5 am seven days a week. Why?
Changing lighting times abruptly can disrupt laying.
Sunrise varies from 5:15 in June (summer) to 7:17 December/January.
I turn on lights inside coops this time of year (June) and inside/outside rest of the year.

My pens are covered with Deer netting and tarps, so are protected from Raptors.

I have feed and water inside coops 24/7 and water, shells and grit under the raised coops.
My coops are rodent proof when I close pop door.

I close coops just after sunset, varies from 8:29 pm June to 4:20 pm December.
My work schedule is split, mornings and afternoons.
So I am able to check for eggs after 9 am and again around 1 pm.
My year olds lay before 9 am. My 3 1/2 year olds lay at different times throughout the day. GC

 

[Jacquej57]

I used to let my kids out at the crack of dawn, but we lost 4 pullets and a cockerel to a predator out in our shelter belt. One chicken a day. So now I go out and feed them breakfast and change out water and let them out into a tiny covered pen until about 11:00 a.m. Then I open the door and let them roam. Haven't lost a chicken since we stopped letting them out at peak predator time. They come in to roost about a half hour before twilight. Hopefully this schedule will continue to keep everyone safe. Knock on wood.