they rush to out but not in!!!

[Jenski]

For one of my groups of chicks I tried one of those battery-powered lights that you just tap to turn on (Wal Mart). We hung one on a screw just inside the coop door, and when it got near dark I reached in and tapped the light on. Worked like a charm - - when the young birds started getting nervous as dark set in, they noticed the dim light inside the coop and all marched up the ramp. When everyone was safely inside, I just reached in and tapped the light off.

I did this for about two weeks, and then I just quit tapping the light on since they were finally big grown-up chicks.

Hope that helps.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I used to just threaten to soak our (grown) flock with a bucket of water. It works perfectly; they rarely make me follow through with the threat! It works if I have to get them in during the day, too.
I'll also bang on the top of the run with a stick and tell them to go in. They now know the routine, but often I still have to refer back to the first method.
I've tried treats, but some of our hens are wise to that. They'll run in, grab a treat, and run back out to eat it! Our rooster is hard to get in, too, because he never eats treats with the hens around anyway.

 

[Judy]

A light for an hour or two worked for me, too.

 

[Akane]

At 4weeks they probably won't get it. I would not let them wander at that age. Mine generally stay in the coop until 12weeks even when given the option to roam (I don't have a pen, only free range) and I don't let them wander loose until 8weeks. The few that have tried to leave the coop before 12weeks have either had to be chased down at dark and caught or never returned. They don't seem to get the idea of returning to the coop until they at least get past 8weeks or they are raised by a hen and follow her from hatching.

 

[fowler_chick]

there between 6 weeks and 8 weeks as a bunch, they just started going out mid week last week, they have always had a light on at night in the coop , we have now set the timer to go off at dusk and to turn off around 1 am. we thought that since they saw the light at dusk that they would all head up to the coop, instead they all snuggle in with each other at the bottom of the ramp and fall asleep.......will try cantalope and watermelon tonight.

 

[raspeary]

I put a flashlight in the coop for a few minutes. As soon as the light was in there, mine went right in.

Now, I had cornish's who refused to go in at night and they wouldn't let you put them in till they were ready, even though they went in and out of the coop and up the ladder during the day. My rhode islands were the same way because they were doing what the cornish's were doing. Occassionally I would luck out and he reds would be in. Once the cornish rocks were gone, my rir's and buffs go in everynight without a flashlight.

We put one of those lights that you push on in the coop just incase the buffs didn't go in . My buff were not integrate until the cornish rocks were gone. I was lucky and they follwed what the rhode islands did.

Sorry I wasn't much help probably.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
I think you need to give them more time in the coop. In the beginning, you would probably do better to let them out in the late afternoon or early evening for an hour or two of outside time. I'd also do away with the coop light.

But, in general, my hens have always wandered home to roost.