Training to go in at night?

[peckpeckpeck]

Checked on gals an hour before their bed. No signs of headed in that direction. Half hour later I check again with a plan. I sprinkle a bit of BOSS in the henhouse and leave them to their own devices. Another half hour later and its bedtime. Nope. These girls think they are badass owls. Ok, Pecca won't use the ladder so lets see if when I put her in does anyone follow? EGGY! Good girl! Hmmmmm....no one else? Ladies? NO EGGY! STAY INSIDE! C'mon girls, its getting dark...Dark means light shows up more brightly. I opened the cleanout door window and shined (shone?) my flashlight at the ceiling (don't want to blind the chickens). Nugget and Maryjane soon took notice. Nugget started up the ladder, Maryjane soon followed. At the door Eggy started to come back out but before I could interfere Maryjane pushed her back inside. Now only Maryjane stood with her fluffy butt still sticking out of the coop. A little push and they're all in! I think I'm going to put a battery operated nightlight in the coop to draw them in. About 2 hours later hubby went out and put them up on the roost, trying to not disturb them too much. He stood by a couple minutes then checked and they were still on the roost. They'v never roosted at night so I think we're gonna do this till they get it. Stay tuned.

I laughed so loud I startled my dog who shot me a glare like "weirdo!"
My girls did that -- hem & haw at the door then then get shoved in or out by someone more impatient.

The light trick was brilliant!
Good girls, Eggy, Maryjane & Nugget. Now if you can just get Pecca on board....
btw, those names are sooo cute!

 

[Cryss]

Glad you liked my post! , Pecca stumbles her way partway down the ladder ramp in the mornings before she jumps or tips to the ground. She never goes back on it at all so I enable her. Six people in the family, 4 of us each picked a name. Need 2 more. Unfortunately I believe Maryjane is Marvin. Since my breeder guaranteed pullets he will swap with me. I am also unsure about Repecca. Smaller than Maryjane/Marvin but has a comb and waddle I'm not sure of. I might wait till Pecca crows but Marvin is going back.

 

[Cryss]

I again tried locking the girls in the henhouse from Friday night to Monday morning. STILL I have to shine a light inside the henhouse to get them curious enough to go inside or I physically place them inside. Frustrating because until they get it I can't open the area under the henhouse for them to have more space. They huddled under there and we couldn't get to them. It's too cold to let them stay out. Plus, once I am really sure they will go inside at night I can let them out to the 10x10 run. I've given them a higher roost so I thought that would help. I might end up chasing these girls forever.

 

[Hope Hughes]

I was just poking by to see how your girls were doing!
I see ypu were still having trouble getting them to roost! They are stubborn little girls huh lol
I hope the higher roost help!

I still have a few bannies i have to physically put on the roost at night(thats why i just redid our roost set up today) ​

 

[peckpeckpeck]

Looking at your videos, it seems like they're still young. Pecca looks like she might need some extra steps that are a little closer together.

Also I don't know if it's possible with your setup, but if she wants to fly in & out, there's not much of a "landing strip" after the ladder. Meaning, she'd fly past the ladder but then hit the fence of the run or be confident enough to fly off to the side. Does that make sense?

My girls didn't really get confident using the stairs until they were closer to egg laying age -- 20+ weeks?
They're 8 months old now. And Kiwa still mostly flies in & out.

 

[peckpeckpeck]

By the way, they are really pretty girls!

 

[Cryss]

Looking at your videos, it seems like they're still young. Pecca looks like she might need some extra steps that are a little closer together.

Also I don't know if it's possible with your setup, but if she wants to fly in & out, there's not much of a "landing strip" after the ladder. Meaning, she'd fly past the ladder but then hit the fence of the run or be confident enough to fly off to the side. Does that make sense?

My girls didn't really get confident using the stairs until they were closer to egg laying age -- 20+ weeks?
They're 8 months old now. And Kiwa still mostly flies in & out.

By the way, they are really pretty girls!

That does make sense, thank you. It's been a race with old man winter as I male coop changes. I'm hoping we get a bit of warming so I can adjust the ramp a bit more.
And thank you for the compliment. I never really knew how pretty chickens could be. I'm starting to worry about chicken math!

 

[Cryss]

I work weekends so I only see the gals when I let them out in the morning. I get home just in time to put them to bed. Son-in-law watches their water for me so it doesn't freeze.
Saturday I stopped on my way home to buy crumble (purina start and grow medicated) and, as a few of you recommended, vitamins (durvet vitamins and electrolytes). I bring all water indoors at night so it's room temp in the morning, so I added the vitamins then. Sunday I didn't see them as hubby was home and took care of them. This morning, Monday, Repecca's crop seemed much more reduced and she seemed a bit more interested in getting out of the henhouse. She still crouches down and looks round but it seemed she stood up and stretched out chicken-like more often.
I saw her poop was normal, she ate, drank, and took some grit, all as has been usual for her. Her skin around her cloacca (sp?) Looks pink and clean even if the ends of her tail feathers are dirty. She did look like she was picking at chest feathers for a moment, preening? picking? Still no roosting.
Hubby did a bit of video because we decided to let them out into the 10x10 area for the first time. If he gets them up on YouTube I'll post a thread.

 

[Cryss]

Video under "Pictures And Stories...."
Named "My Girls First Day Out".

 

[Cryss]

Follow up:
Maryjane, Nugget, and Eggsmerelda all go into the coop on their own AND they roost! My clumsy gal, Repecca, has made her way in 3 times in 3 months. She is usually found outside the coop huddled in some corner of the run but comes running out to me all chirpy as I approach to lock them in. I usually pick her up, cuddle a bit, wipe her cold feet if there's water or snow on them, and usually hold her feet to warm em up a bit before popping her into the coop for the night. I figure if she's got balance or toe/foot issues no need to complicate it with icy feet.
Yeah, she's spoiled.