Why won't my chickens go in on their own at night???

[Tomhusker]

Quote:
This is exactly how I did it. I kept them in the coop for 3 days as well. But, in my hurry to get them to go out into the run I was actually pushing them out in the morning. In the evening I had to put them back as well because they would bunch together in the run at sundown.

After a couple of days, I decided that I would open the pop door and wait them out. It took 4 hours, but they did come out. In the evening I turned on a light and, sure enough, they returned at dusk. I only used the light one night. I used an inexpensive push light from WalMart.

 

[louisegail]

my young hens (20 weeks) have started hanging out later than I would like. It is cold and dark in Southern BC (Canada) by 4:30 - 5:00 in December and January. I don't live with my chickens so I have to go out to make sure they are secure for the night. Lately several of them are waiting for me to put them in! Just when we were working on a system to automatically close the coop for the night.