Silly chicks not going into the coop

[kristenm1975]

This is my second time introducing the month and half old pullets to the main coop. The first time, there were 5 of them: a sultan, a porcelain d'uccle, two barred rocks and an ameraucana, and two nights into it, they made the mistake of roosting for the night in the covered area of their run where the feeders are. There was a small gap in the cover on the run and an owl dive-bombed them and ripped three of them up, leaving me with some very sad, gruesome clean-up the morning after.

Still feeling a bit traumatized and guilty after that incident, I went over that run with eagle eyes, looking for any hole where they might be endangered. I fixed one spot, using hardware cloth, and put them back out there again. Two had survived the attach by hiding in an empty feeder, the sultan and a barred rock, and I added a little buff orp to the mix.

They were doing it again, sleeping outside the coop, right up next to the fence in a corner, and I decided I didn't want to risk it so I went out to scoop them up and put them in the coop. My back door faces the coop and is about five paces from the run's fence. As soon as I opened up the back door into the dark, I saw a HUGE shadow winging away from the run. I had apparently gotten out there just in time to scare away another huge owl. Whew!!!

I'm so happy the babies were safe, and I just hope they learn to go in by themselves real soon!

 

[Big dreams]

I have to turn on a light in the coop until they are all in, but I don't have a window yet, we are still working on the coop. So sorry that must be

Hope they are all safe now that you know.

 

[packmomma]

Yeah I posted a simular question a few weeks back. Put a red heat bulb or regular light in there and when it gets dark they will go where its light. Then they will be inside by the time its dark..hopefully. YOu might have to shoo them in a few times. I have to close mine up at night because I have cats. I go clean the water and turn on the light around 7ish..and by dark at 9:30 they are all in and I can close the door. Someone else suggested feeding them a treat inside the coop at night when its almost dark that way they associate yummy treats and coming in when its getting dark. HOpe that helps.

 

[kristenm1975]

Well, I already have a light set up in there to encourage laying during the darker months of the year. I guess I could just turn that on and see what happens. Good idea! Thanks!

 

[ChooksChick]

I have a cheap lamp timer which has 2 sets of off/on settings. In the winter it comes on early, before sunrise, and again 1/2 hour prior to dusk. The summer months, I just have it come on before dusk.

This is all I need for them to go in- drawn to it like moths!

 

[flytpm]

Is it ok for them to be in coop all night with water out in the run?

 

[RAWR]

ooo! good ideas

 

[desertgirl]

I read this thinking I would need a few tricks, but I just went out to check on them (having turned on the heat lamp about a half an hour ago and hoping they would get it) and there they were,all snuggled up, looking at me like, "Welll, you didn't think we were going to sleep out there, did ya?!"


Thank goodness for smart chickens.

 

[sloallie10]

CUTE PiC