should I keep putting them in the coop at night?

[ekofke201]

Alright... My girls have been out of the brooder for several weeks. They lived in the coop for two weeks. They have been allowed out in the run for about one week. However, they refuse to put themselves away at night. Only my Polish makes the trek up the ramp to perch for the night around 8. The rest pile into a corner of the run. They are perfectly capable of using the ramp. I watch them walk up and down all day long. I did put a light out there in the coop last night. It did not work.

Should I just keep putting them in there? Or do I let them sleep in the run until they figure it out? The run is predator proof (we think), but I would obviously be more comfortable with them locked up.

I am at a total loss and pretty tired of putting screaming chickens away every night. I don't think it is helping our relationship!

At a total loss...

 

[sourland]

When chickens remain in a run at night, they are vulnerable to predators that may run around the pen causing them to fly and injure themselves. At one time I raised ringnecks and the GHO would get them flying and then grab them through the wire and decapitate them. Do you feed in the coop or run? If the coop, remove all feed around noon and put it back out just before 'bedtime' to lure them into the coop.

 

[ekofke201]

I have been feeding them in the run as I have 3 ducks sharing it with them. Should I put something special in there for them throughout the day so that they want to go in and out? I can't understand why they can't figure this out!

 

[CAjerseychick]

Alright... My girls have been out of the brooder for several weeks. They lived in the coop for two weeks. They have been allowed out in the run for about one week. However, they refuse to put themselves away at night. Only my Polish makes the trek up the ramp to perch for the night around 8. The rest pile into a corner of the run. They are perfectly capable of using the ramp. I watch them walk up and down all day long. I did put a light out there in the coop last night. It did not work.

Should I just keep putting them in there? Or do I let them sleep in the run until they figure it out? The run is predator proof (we think), but I would obviously be more comfortable with them locked up.

I am at a total loss and pretty tired of putting screaming chickens away every night. I don't think it is helping our relationship!

At a total loss...

I am so proud to be able to say my babies finally put themselves into the coop tonight-- OK so I used Jakodas method and have been carrying out a plate of mash (its just their feed with a little water mixed in and they LOVE it) to the coop for a week-- I make a big show of putting inside through a side door but tonight is the fist nite they all came in on their own-- easy! You catch more flies with Honey is the saying and I believe this is true... Try this positive reinforcement method...

 

[kreagerm]

They'll figure it out. For about a week and a half I had to place mine in the coop at night. I did this at dusk so they could still see to get on the roosting poles. Then one evening they just starting going in one after another, it was pretty cool to see them figure it out.

Hang in there it will happen.

 

[ekofke201]

Thanks for the encouragement! I got the light working again tonight... the braker had tripped. Lola was still the only one in there in her own around dusk. I put the other girls in with the light on and they were happier to put away when they could see. I also put a pile of meal worms in there. They thought that was great! I thought I would put the meal worms out tomorrow when I put the light on. Geez I hope they get a hang of this soon

 

[ekofke201]

THEY DID IT! We got home tonight at 10:30 and all of the girls had put themselves away! I had sprinkled meal worms in the coop and put the light inside on a timer. Success!! Thank goodness...

 

[CAjerseychick]

THEY DID IT! We got home tonight at 10:30 and all of the girls had put themselves away! I had sprinkled meal worms in the coop and put the light inside on a timer. Success!! Thank goodness...

Congratulations! They have passed an important developmental milestone!