Teaching chickens to go in run

Sportsman94

Chirping
Mar 24, 2021
69
111
83
Central Georgia
First time chicken keeper. Do you have to teach your chickens to go out to their run? Yesterday was the first day I gave my 5 week old chickens the ability to get to their run. They waited until about 30 minutes before dark to go out and then didn’t want to get back in the coop. Today they had free access to the run all day and didn’t go out once. Is this something I need to train them to do or will they learn on their own to do it?
 
They will learn on their own, but it helps if you go in the run with them. Especially if you have a few treats in your pocket! Please post some pics of your chicks and set up.

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here’s the coop, run, and inside the coop. We have 7 chickens (3 white rock, 1 buff Orpington, 1 rhode island red, 1 Easter egger, 1 red star)
 

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I locked mine in for 1-2 weeks (with food and water). Now as soon as it gets dark they go in on their own.

My ducks started copying the chickens and maybe 10-15 minutes after it gets really dark, they all waddle into their house.
 
I locked mine in for 1-2 weeks (with food and water). Now as soon as it gets dark they go in on their own.

My ducks started copying the chickens and maybe 10-15 minutes after it gets really dark, they all waddle into their house.

i was trying to shortcut and only locked them in for two days. The funny thing is they don’t go into the run until about 30 minutes before dark. It’s like they are on a reverse schedule
 

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