When to Feed for Free Range Flock Going Into Coop at Night?

[kellypepperk]

Hi there - just looking for some ideas and advice...
Here's our story so far:
We have 31 chickens (including a few too many roos that will be going away before winter) that are 16 weeks old. They are free range all day and cooped at night. We just finished our "trap door" so until very recently I've called them to the coop by singing a song (chick-a-doodle-do) and banging on the feed barrel. Now that the trap door is open for them to come and go, I've found that they're already roosted by the time I get in there to feed them. So, should I switch up my routine? Should I feed them in the morning knowing that when they're ready they'll come to the coop? The trap door gets shut at dust, and there are still a few chickie-peckers that won't come in - usually the same delinquent group...
Any thoughts, ideas and advice would be welcomed.
Thanks !

 

[devora]

Why not just place a feeder in the coop and have done w/ it?

 

[kellypepperk]

The feeder is in the coop. When we first began this process we used the feed as incentive for them to come to the coop in the evening and I fed them once they were all inside.

 

[laura625]

Maybe devora meant leave food in the feeder at all times? My pullets h
ave a similar schedule. I like to feed them at night so they can be sure to have a full crop at bedtime, but be encouraged to forage in the mornings. , rather than look to me for pellets.
They all go into the coop on their own at bedtime even without food.
Because of my work schedule i am sometimes not home to feed them before they are roosed. It wakes them up and they get up to eat. I worry about that. But in my case its unavoidable for now.
As I said, I dont feed in mornings because I want them to go forage. If thats not a concern for you, you could switch to mornings I guess,
Or feed earlier in evening . Or free feed in co
right?

 

[devora]

Yeah, Laura625, that is what I meant. Thanks for the clarification.

Fill the feeder, stick it in the coop, keep it filled. They don't need to be coaxed to bed. Well, unless there's a really rippin' party nearby.

 

[donrae]

I just keep feed in the feeder all the time.

 

[kellypepperk]

I think I need to let go a little and allow my chickers to do the right thing... I also have a 7 year old daughter. This "letting go" thing is hard!

tomorrow we'll begin our new routine!
and, Devora - rippin' parties are our specialty!
thanks for the input!

 

[kellypepperk]

I have been feeding the chickers in the late afternoon and leaving the trap door open. Well before nightfall all 29 chickens are perched and snoring. Slayer, aka "Fluffy" (#30) stays in the front yard and Lucky the missing-toed-chicken-with-painted-toenails, (#31) sleeps in the house.

Thank you for all the input! Now, who has advice for dealing with a brand new second grader?!