Training pullets to go back in their coop at night

[ChickenladyMA4]

I have (4) 9 week old hens. I use a compact coop/run and after a week and couple of days, I decided to let them free range in my backyard. The first night of trying to lure them back wasn’t too bad because they were food motivated. Tonight however, they were much harder to wrangle in. It took me 30 minutes to coax them back in with a little lamp and guiding them in. I am nervous about what it would be like tomorrow night. And I am also thinking about clipping some of their wings because my Easter eggers were getting fed up with it getting darker and were getting ready to try and sleep on the fence- which panicked me that they almost reached it (barely 4 ft tall).

Any advice to make this easier and have them learn faster?

 

[nuthatched]

Are there windows in the coop? They may need a nightlight for a week or two.

 

[ChickenladyMA4]

Are there windows in the coop? They may need a nightlight for a week or two.

Yes, it is square in shape- the run is at the bottom (primarily wire all around) and there are perching bars above that area where they sleep. I had a nightlight in there tonight which is what helped keep them near but it was tough to get them to walk inside.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes, it is square in shape- the run is at the bottom (primarily wire all around) and there are perching bars above that area where they sleep. I had a nightlight in there tonight which is what helped keep them near but it was tough to get them to walk inside.

Can you post a picture? Are you trying to get them in too early?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Are the perching bars inside or outside of the coop? How many chicks and what is the size of the coop , L x W in feet?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can you post a picture? Are you trying to get them in too early?

x2. I've never had chicks or pullets not return to their coop or brooder at dusk.

Are these your only chickens right now? Were they going into the coop on their own from the run during the first week? If these are your only chickens and they were reliably going into the coop you might need to confine them to the run for longer to ensure they're homed to it, before letting them free range.

If they were NOT going into the coop on their own from the run, then either lock them into the coop for a week (assuming it's large enough and ventilated enough to do so) or manually place them inside until they reliably use the coop, and then go from there.

 

[ChickenladyMA4]

Can you post a picture? Are you trying to get them in too early?

I may have been trying to get them in too early- i left them alone tonight and left a light for them- they got in by themselves! Thanks!

 

[ChickenladyMA4]

x2. I've never had chicks or pullets not return to their coop or brooder at dusk.

Are these your only chickens right now? Were they going into the coop on their own from the run during the first week? If these are your only chickens and they were reliably going into the coop you might need to confine them to the run for longer to ensure they're homed to it, before letting them free range.

If they were NOT going into the coop on their own from the run, then either lock them into the coop for a week (assuming it's large enough and ventilated enough to do so) or manually place them inside until they reliably use the coop, and then go from there.

Tonight is night 3 and they went in by themselves!I may have been trying to put them back in too early. Thanks!