When will my chicks smarten up? *sigh*

[Jules089]

SO! I have 11 chicks that are 7 weeks old...fully feathered & doing great! I'm SO please with them!!

That said...I'm afraid I don't have the brightest chicks in the world-wide coop...

We have had (with more coming) cold weather here in Western North Carolina...it will be in the teens this weekend. Their coop has heating lamps, fresh, clean water, delicious food! - really everything to reinforce that home is where you want to be!!

I even have a light that is on inside the coop & dims starting at 9pm because I know they are attracted to light.

But...every night I have to go and catch them and physically put them into the coop to be able to lock them in safely...they don't go in on their own.

This is SUPER annoying! When will they smarten up and go in on their own??

Photo of just one of the..."special" pullets...

(and if the sarcasm doesn't translate...please know that I absolutely love my chickens....even if they are trying to kill me.

View attachment 4010987

Like others have said , I also locked mine in their coop for a few days, so they knew where " home" was, it worked a treat.

 

[FoghornTim]

My chicks from the Spring needed a little coaxing to go into the coop. After a few evenings of guiding them, they soon figured it out. I get what your concern is for colder nights with young ones. I might do a heat source for a little while until they are feathered out. Otherwise here in colder Ohio I use no lights, no heat source. Raised chickens for a long time and they survive very well. Plus I maybe more then others want no fire hazard possibility in my coop.

 

[Etiene]

I have three coops and three to six weeks between ages of flocks. Some take to their coops as I have trained them to Others have to be shoved in the door for up to a week. Now they have the option to roost in any coop they choose. They lay eggs in any coop they choose now not always where they roost

 

[Lisa Brown]

SO! I have 11 chicks that are 7 weeks old...fully feathered & doing great! I'm SO please with them!!

That said...I'm afraid I don't have the brightest chicks in the world-wide coop...

We have had (with more coming) cold weather here in Western North Carolina...it will be in the teens this weekend. Their coop has heating lamps, fresh, clean water, delicious food! - really everything to reinforce that home is where you want to be!!

I even have a light that is on inside the coop & dims starting at 9pm because I know they are attracted to light.

But...every night I have to go and catch them and physically put them into the coop to be able to lock them in safely...they don't go in on their own.

This is SUPER annoying! When will they smarten up and go in on their own??

Photo of just one of the..."special" pullets...

(and if the sarcasm doesn't translate...please know that I absolutely love my chickens....even if they are trying to kill me.

View attachment 4010987

It possibly is too hot in the coop with the heat lamp therefore they are uncomfortable and staying outside. We use a brooder warmer plate hung/secured to their door, but I do not turn it on unless it is a blowing cold because we leave the windows cracked for ventilation.
In the winter months I do not put a light on inside the coop so they can rest from laying. They will only lay so many eggs in their lifetime, so I try to keep them laying longer. I have a similar coop. I deep litter in the winter months so that helps retain heat inside also.

 

[Love Donkeys]

We have a group of 15 week old Speckled Sussex pullets. Since they are fed expensive grower crumble they are housed in the Sick Bay of our walk in coop.

Once they were fully feathered I let them free-range with the rest of the gang. 4pm is scratch-feed time, the pullets get theirs in the coop. As soon as I put out the scratch-feed the pullets pile into the coop. Some run up the ramp, some jump in, some come in "airborne", all except for 2. Those two darlings keep trying to get in the coop by going through the wire mesh. I have to show them every evening how to get in through the door. Sooner or later they will figure it out, I hope.