training to walk up and into the coop at night?

[Coop de Grille]

Mine are 17 1/2 weeks and 9 weeks old. When I turned the light off inside the coop they stopped going in at dark. They hung out in the run and I had to put them in the coop. The last two nights I have put a light on and they have put themselves to bed. None of mine will get up on a roost. I have four roosts of varying heights and not one will go up, they all huddle together, under the light.

Then I have 5 week olds that will put themselves into their little coop before dark without assistance. They don't have a roost since they are basically still in the brooder, just outside in their own little area.

 

[ButchGood]

Last night I decided to just observe and see if they could figure it out themselves. So just a couple minutes after the sun went down they started hanging around the door looking for me. They did not go up the ladder. So I did assist. Hehe. BUT they ALL went straight to roost on their own and were completely quiet. So they are getting it. They do come out of the coop in the AM just fine. It's going up the ladder at night that they don't get. I'll see if they figure that out tonight. I know chickens do as they see so maybe I can walk a stuffed animal chicken up the ladder, they will follow. (j/k).

When my chicks first went into the coop on their own I watched as well. All it took was one brave soul to be the first through the door and the rest followed suit. What a bunch of copy cats. I find this is true with all new thigs with them. Very funny too watch.

 

[bj taylor]

this is a very reassuring thread. my little bunch start their distress call at sunset but won't go in themselves. last night three went in & i was so excited, but the remaining two called & called until the three came back out so i had to put them all in again.
i hadn't realized letting them sleep in the nest boxes wasn't a good thing. my bigger girls do that. i guess i need to work something out there. they're so cozy, i hate to interupt their sleeping habits.

 

[kmatt87]

Butchgood-Mine did the same thing, but I got lucky it only took them a day or two and they did it all on there own. They have been sleeping in the nest boxes though so I blocked them off Sunday and they are now using the roost bars at night. It is amazing how all of a sudden they get it.....

what did you use to block off your nesting boxes?

 

[Hawgon]

Quote:

what did you use to block off your nesting boxes?

Just some cheap precut 2'x4'x1/8" fiber board from Home Depot (about$2)and cut it to fit and put some staples to hold it so I can remove it easily ith drilling a bunch of holes or using screws. Works well so far....About anything would have worked as it is dry in there but I was at HD anyway and was in that isle....lol

 

[ButchGood]

I haven't had to block off the boxes. They don't go into them very often. They get on the roosts during the day, and sleep in the corner of the coop in a chick pile.If I had to I would wad up some feed bags and shove them in the boxes.

 

[Hawgon]

All 6 of mine would crowd in 2 of the boxes and there would be lots of poop in them in the morning so I had to do something. So far so good on them using the roosting bars. Mid-July will be 20 weeks so maybe end of June I will pull off boards and put in the fake eggs and then just wait I guess.

 

[Kjf18]

We didn't let our chicks out of the coop into the run for close to two weeks. The first day we did, I had to put all eight back in at night. The second day, all but one went in by themselves. Beginning with the third day, they all go in. We do have a light in the coop on a timer.

 

[fowlmouthgirls]

My girls range from 5 days to 4 weeks, I let the 4 older girls go out to the coop during the day and keep the babies inside in a tub with a light on. Then i bring the older girls back in the house with the babies t night. What is a good age for me to let them try a first night in the coop? They seem to love it out there, but there is no light and it makes m worry. Also do you close your coop door at night, or just the run door?

 

[4dbill]

Just thought you guys/ladies might enjoy this video of our chickens walking up to the coop for the night.