They Went Inside!

[City Farmer Jim]

Its a bit on the pricey side BUT I won't have a coop without an automatic pop door..we have a pullet shut door..it has a photo sensor and closes at dark and the girls and I have adapted to it very well..I still check on them but if they miss the door closing they will hang out on the ramp and wait to be let in. It doesn't happen often and if you let them stay on the ramp and extra long time after dark that particular bird doesn't make that mistake again unless its the hardheaded girl we ALL have in our flock.

 

[Sonya9]

If you get a different brooder next time you might want one that you can approach from the side instead of the top so when you handle/reach for them you are at their level and they can see your face (vs a huge hand swooping down from the top to grab them like a monster/predator).

 

[3KillerBs]

If you get a different brooder next time you might want one that you can approach from the side instead of the top so when you handle/reach for them your hands are at their level and they can see your face (vs sweeping down from the top like a monster/predator).

I brooded them in my coop (thread here), which is 4'x4'. The access door was from the side, but since I can't reach the back wall I think that not being able to catch them made a difference.

 

[3KillerBs]

Its a bit on the pricey side BUT I won't have a coop without an automatic pop door..we have a pullet shut door..it has a photo sensor and closes at dark and the girls and I have adapted to it very well..I still check on them but if they miss the door closing they will hang out on the ramp and wait to be let in. It doesn't happen often and if you let them stay on the ramp and extra long time after dark that particular bird doesn't make that mistake again unless its the hardheaded girl we ALL have in our flock.

For my in-town chickens I had a hardened run and left the pop door open 24/7 except in emergencies. I hope to duplicate that in my permanent facilities here. But for now I've got the coop inside electric poultry netting and have to shut them in at night.

 

[lovesfarms]

Do you have all females? I ordered all females but ended up with some roosters. I rehomed 4 and out of my 10 chicks I still have one rooster left and will be disappointed when he crows and has to go. The last 2 wks (8-9 wks old) he helps round up the ladies for bedtime and always waits till last to go inside. I watched in amazement when my former rooster taught them to get up on the roost! He would get on the roost first and almost fall off, looking down until they ask joined him. They don't get treats to go inside, at bedtime the rooster checks out the pen and with head down on the ground, runs after the ladies. I think a rooster is beneficial! So much fun!

 

[April0617]

We had the chicks out in the pen for an hour or so before sunset. The first few times we had to catch them and put them in. Last night we started that process and some of them went in.

Tonight I was waiting for it to get just a little bit darker so that I could catch them easily when one of them got into the door on her own, realized that she was home, and went in. The others followed once they heard her cheeping inside.

View attachment 2269355

Here they are huddled on the blocks next to the pop door, not quite understanding that they can go in.

Isn't it the best feeling? It's been about a month now for us and my favorite part of the day is still sitting on the patio watching the march to bed!

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you have all females? I ordered all females but ended up with some roosters. I rehomed 4 and out of my 10 chicks I still have one rooster left and will be disappointed when he crows and has to go. The last 2 wks (8-9 wks old) he helps round up the ladies for bedtime and always waits till last to go inside. I watched in amazement when my former rooster taught them to get up on the roost! He would get on the roost first and almost fall off, looking down until they ask joined him. They don't get treats to go inside, at bedtime the rooster checks out the pen and with head down on the ground, runs after the ladies. I think a rooster is beneficial! So much fun!

They are supposed to all be pullets. I am suspicious of Omelet's rather red comb.

 

[lovesfarms]

If omelot is a rooster he may start teaching them to go to bed. I you have them outside, he may soon start teaching them to hide from bird shadows and noises.

 

[lovesfarms]

It's amazing they have such instincts at such a young age

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I use organic unhulled sesame seeds to bribe my chickens. They will do anything for them. I get them on ebay, surprisingly inexpensive.

I suggest meal worms, cold English peas or snow or sweet peas for sure since it’s so hot. Mine keel over for these and carrot tops, cucumbers. They will walk a mile for all these. Especially mealworms. Even the red bag they come in. They have learned what that is.