Training to go in at night?

[Hope Hughes]

As far as I know that' all it is... that and being automatic
If I'm wrong by what zoomie was talking about they will correct me... but I'm assuming that' all. ​

 

[Zoomie]

Yeah, it's just the door they come in and out of. Yours came with a closing door? Awesome! Mine did not and I had to add it. So that is great that yours already has a door.

Good that they all fit. It should not take long to teach them, they are not "bird brains" they are actually pretty smart.

 

[Cryss]

I am so bummed. Today is the 10th day. On the 7th day they all went into the henhouse on their own but since then they have started huddling in a corner of the run. Today is supposed to be almost springlike and I was really hoping to be able to let them into the 10x10 run. Am I missing something or doing something wrong? We end up going out in the dark to grab them and physically place them inside. How late should they be going in normally? What would be too soon? I can't lock them in the henhouse other than overnight because it is small and i dony really want water in there as was suggested because its going down into the 20s at night. I don't want condensation/frostbite. I've blocked off half of the attached run leaving only about 3x3 . I'm really looking forward to releasing them into the 10x10 but don't want to have to chase them at night.
Oh...and yet...they love sitting in the doorway of the henhouse during the day, see my avatar!

 

[Hope Hughes]

Chickens like to be high when they are roosting... They may not be happy with the way their coop is. You can try what zoomie did to theirs installing high roost on the inside. They may be happy after that. ​

 

[imnukensc]

Roosts are way too low. I wouldn't even call them roosts. Move them up about a foot and a half. In your pictures, they're sitting in the pop door. The sliding door on your clean out door is not the pop door.

 

[Cryss]

Chickens like to be high when they are roosting... They may not be happy with the way their coop is. You can try what zoomie did to theirs installing high roost on the inside. They may be happy after that. ​

I do want to make that adjustment bit I am a bit concerned about one of my chicks. She's always the last one out of the henhouse in the morning. I watch her perched on the roost acting like shes afraid she'll fall. It's like she's trying to screw up some courage to jump. When she finally does she stands at the open door looking panicked at the thought of walking down the ladder. She very clumsily steps onto it but always jumps off rather than walk it. I've only seen her go up once and can only assume she walked it because it was the only night I ever found her inside independently. Once on the ground she seems to walk normally, no issues walking. She is a bit of a loner but I don't see anyone pecking her or any signs of agression. So I've worried about raising the roosts.
I just had thought...is it possible the other 3, who go up and down the ladder all day, have opted to stay outside at night because this one can't get in on her own? Are they protecting her?

 

[Cryss]

Roosts are way too low. I wouldn't even call them roosts. Move them up about a foot and a half. In your pictures, they're sitting on the pop door. The sliding door on your clean out door is not the pop door.

Yes, they are sitting in the pop door inside the attached run. On the left of that opening is a sliding door to close it up at night. The cleanout door is on the outside of the henhouse. It is hinged, not a slide door.

 

[Hope Hughes]

I do want to make that adjustment bit I am a bit concerned about one of my chicks. She's always the last one out of the henhouse in the morning. I watch her perched on the roost acting like shes afraid she'll fall. It's like she's trying to screw up some courage to jump. When she finally does she stands at the open door looking panicked at the thought of walking down the ladder. She very clumsily steps onto it but always jumps off rather than walk it. I've only seen her go up once and can only assume she walked it because it was the only night I ever found her inside independently. Once on the ground she seems to walk normally, no issues walking. She is a bit of a loner but I don't see anyone pecking her or any signs of agression. So I've worried about raising the roosts.
I just had thought...is it possible the other 3, who go up and down the ladder all day, have opted to stay outside at night because this one can't get in on her own? Are they protecting her?

The others could be staying out to stay with her. You can try making a wider ramp so it doesn't seem to her like she will fall off. Also make kina a stair way roost. Make one as high as you can where they can roost comfortably and then add one a little bit lower so they hsve one to jump up to the high one, or down off the high one. Might helo a little.. Some are clumsy when young.. have you checked her feet to make sure of no injuries may be why she doesn' want to jump or walk on a hard surface.
I had a group on "teens" I had to put on the roost every night for like a month I tried everything and then one day it's like a light bulb went off and they started roosting. Stubborn teens. Lol every chicken and every flock is different. ​

 

[imnukensc]

Yes, they are sitting in the pop door inside the attached run. On the left of that opening is a sliding door to close it up at night. The cleanout door is on the outside of the henhouse. It is hinged, not a slide door.

Thanks for pointing that out! My old eyes didn't pick up on it. Your ramp looks plenty wide enough to me.

 

[peckpeckpeck]

I do want to make that adjustment bit I am a bit concerned about one of my chicks. She's always the last one out of the henhouse in the morning. I watch her perched on the roost acting like shes afraid she'll fall. It's like she's trying to screw up some courage to jump. When she finally does she stands at the open door looking panicked at the thought of walking down the ladder. She very clumsily steps onto it but always jumps off rather than walk it. I've only seen her go up once and can only assume she walked it because it was the only night I ever found her inside independently. Once on the ground she seems to walk normally, no issues walking. She is a bit of a loner but I don't see anyone pecking her or any signs of agression. So I've worried about raising the roosts.
I just had thought...is it possible the other 3, who go up and down the ladder all day, have opted to stay outside at night because this one can't get in on her own? Are they protecting her?

They should go in as it starts to get dark. Here in Oregon, that means they head in around 4pm so they're settled in by sunset at 4:30pm. You can lure them into the henhouse around then with treats like BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) & lock them in for the night. That can help them learn that that's "home"

If that doesn't work, The coop looks ok to lock the girls in for a couple days. I would put food & water in the nesting box & lock them in for 1-2 days. You can take the food & water out in the evening since they don't eat or drink overnight.

And Don't worry too much about the scaredy girl. All 3 of my girls took some time to get used to the ladder. One still prefers to fly in & out instead of using the ladder. She's my best girl -- sweet, independent, good layer.

Hope that's helpful!