What time do your chickens go to bed?

[zazouse]

5:30 in southeast texas

 

[redstars]

Mine head in during the last 15 Min's of day lite.
Just about the time they get settled in you can't see any more.

 

[chicknmania]

45 minutes to 1/2 hour before sunset, depending on the weather. If it's nice, or in the summer, they sometimes stay out longer, but not more than 20 minutes or so before sundown.

 

[kathleengp]

Hmmm.....sounds like everyone is going in withing 15 minutes or so of dark. Mine were going in 1 - 1 1/2 hours before dusk - as early as 3:30 when dusk is around 5 pm!

It may not work, but I think I will try locking the coop door from 3-5 for a week or so and see if it helps them if they are forced to get that last 2 hours of light......(i am desperate - lol)!

 

[kathleengp]

digitS' :

Your new birds are probably staying out later because they are low on the pecking order and don’t feel comfortable going into the coop early. They will not be welcomed by the other birds. The bantams may have found some quiet corner or have sorted themselves out on the roost with the larger birds. They might have even found that it’s best to get in there early to avoid problems.

It’s likely that your new RIR’s will adjust soon and not behave much differently from the other birds.

Steve

The new ones are in their own small temporary coop and their own attached run....they will not be allowed to freerange for a few days until they have learned where "home" is.....so it's not pecking order that's keeping them out. I plan on joining the girls up very slowly. But you may be right...this was only their first day home....could be that the new ones will change and go to bed earlier when they are more relaxed.​

 

[tellynpeep]

I have two coops, and each coop has its own bedtime! The older girls are in the coop closest to the house, and they will be out till the last trickle of daylight fades. The chickens in the other coop go to bed at least an hour earlier, between 3:30 and 4 right now; it is shadier down there so slightly darker, but the discrepancy in times surprises me.

 

[nature nut]

I have one that goes in at least 45 minutes before dark and another that follows her about 15 minutes later. They are the oldest (3-5 years) the younger girls all wait until right at dark or until we round them up.

 

[Mrs. K]

I wonder if it depends what side the door is on to your coop? my door faces the east, and really most of the yard is on the east side and south side, with the house sitting in the nw cornor, but the door is on the east side, so a bit more shady there early in the evening. Mine toddle off at sundown, and are never outside in the dark, but seldom inside in the daylight, however, I have a little covered shelter that they can get out of the wind and weather outside. Mrs.K

 

[Mahonri]

They go in about 5:30 to 5:40 at present... and the light doesn't go off until 8PM.

 

[rcentner]

I guess my flock goes to bed early. The 1st ones go in the coop about 45mins before sundown. I find the last few go in about 20-30 mins before sundown, but the coop is dark inside so I think they get in early to get a good seat.

In the summer the coops are lighter (the windows are open) and they go in a little closer to sundown.