Cortneytree
In the Brooder
- Mar 21, 2020
- 4
- 8
- 41
So my backyard flock consists of 4 21-week old girls (Moira, Alexis, Twyla, and Stevie). They have a converted playhouse/coop with an attached covered run. When we first moved them from their brooder to the big wide world I went out every night to call/coax them into the coop and then shut them in for the night, and for the most part they were good little chickens and went to bed without much fuss. All 4 would convene on their ramp and in the doorway and wait for me to "tuck them in". A month or so ago they started refusing to go in for the night, to the point where frustration won out and I started letting them sleep there instead. The run is very well constructed and so far completely predator proof and it's dang hot in Tennessee even at night so I figured what the heck. I will say based on my dropping board that one of them does prefer to roost inside (pretty sure it's my sweet Stevie girl). But now fall is coming and the overnight temps later in the week are supposed to drop into the 50s. At what point should I start insisting they go inside at night? I'd trust them to figure out it's more comfortable indoors but frankly these girls have proven themselves to be quite obstinate. They won't lay in nest boxes despite the cozy surroundings and ceramic egg to illustrate what they're for, they roost on ramps despite having great roosting bars both in the coop and the run, they're just downright contrary 
. Should I start shutting them in now, knowing in winter it will be a must? Or give them a chance to figure it out for themselves? And what about laying in the run? Are they EVER going to figure out nest boxes?
. Should I start shutting them in now, knowing in winter it will be a must? Or give them a chance to figure it out for themselves? And what about laying in the run? Are they EVER going to figure out nest boxes?
