should I put the chicks in the coop after dark?

[girlchick]

Hi,

question for you "pros": I have my 4 Columbian Wyandotte out in the gazebo, protected from predators. They are 7 weeks old and are doing fine out there. They have stopped sleeping under the light. They sleep together against one of the walls of the gazebo instead of the space under the coop. I would like to see them go into the coop at night, but so far they don't go inside, just up the ramp and look inside. LOL

Should I not worry about it or place them inside the coop after dark?

Suggestions are welcome.

Thanks
Nancy in AZ

 

[Judy]

You should be able to train them to live in the coop if you place the in there each night for a week or so, after dark. I would be sure there isn';t some reason they prefer the gazebo, though. Perhaps it is too warm in the coop and they need the breeze to be comfortable, for example?

 

[girlchick]

Judy,
The coop is inside the gazebo, There is no door on the coop. The girls are perfectly safe sleeping on the floor in a pile, but I would think they would want to be up high and enclosed. ( What the heck do I know, I'm new to all this. LOL)

Thanks for the response.