When you say "Keep them in the coop for a week so they know it is home"

[tommysgirl]

Do you mean the wood structure only or do you mean the coop and run. Probably a silly question answered with "coop mean coop silly woman." but just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

 

[Imp]

Do you mean the wood structure only or do you mean the coop and run. Probably a silly question answered with "coop mean coop silly woman." but just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

Not a silly question at all.
I usually offer that advice when someone asks about getting their chickens to go into the coop & roost at night. So I mean the coop(wood structure).

Imp

 

[CarolJ]

It really depends on your set-up. I had a small coop/run combination with the coop higher than the run. So the chickens naturally went up into the coop at night to roost. Now, though, I have a very large and tall run and there are places where they could roost outside in the run - which I don't want them to do. So when I moved them into the new coop/run, I kept the door to the run shut for a week so they'd know the coop was where they were to sleep and lay eggs. That was 8 months ago - and so far, so good.

 

[n8ivetxn]

The first 2 nights I kept mine shut up inside, that was all it took. My set-up is similar to CarolJ, above (coop higher than run).

 

[tommysgirl]

Thank you! The coop is elevated and enclosed in a run where there is no where else to lay eggs or roost so I think they will naturally go up there. Tonight will be their first night out of the human house. I am feeling like I should use a baby monitor

N8tivetxn did you leave them in the coop during the day too?

 

[n8ivetxn]

A baby monitor! - Great idea, why didn't I think of that?!

No, I did let them out during the day, since I only had a few at that time and I could easily coerce them into the coop with a little scratch!