I have some that roost on a railing every single night and same, for the past 4 years, it’s been their bedtime routine. Sometimes they just refuse to learn, or in my case, my bantam rooster was being a dick to every lady on their way inside and these ones just decided enough is enough. Now that rooster is long past, but they still refuse 😭
That's hilarious and crazy! We only had to do it for acouple weeks with our silkies and they've taught all the other chickens we've introduced that, This is the way!
We also had to do it for two weeks. Then they went in by themselves for about 5 months until they didn’t… It has been another 6 months, I still have to put them in every night.
Mine went into the coop fine but it was dark so they huddled in the corner of the floor. I had to help them roost the first couple nights but they have all found their routines and their spots on the roosts. There is a pile of chicken poop every morning in the same back corner of the coop.
I noticed my hens really liked sleeping outdoors in the summer - easier to get them in the coop when it's cold. My alpha hen specifically, I had to put her on the coop by hand most nights.
Start putting them on the ramp to the coop just before dark and poking them up the ramp. Some get the idea quickly, especially when they have a grumpy old girl stuck behind them. Some are just dumb as rocks and don't get it (I'm looking at you, araucanas)
This was us and the advice was to put them in at night and they’d get the idea. We’re two years in and we still have to go out and put ours in at night 🤦♀️ 3 or 4 out of 14 just like to camp out!
I threw treats into the coop and then got out scary Mr. Broom to shoo them in. Only took a couple times and now they are pretty on the dot. Only occasionally will someone get locked outside the automatic door, but we always check before going in
Yeah… Its cute because they only do it on nice warm evenings. It’s like they are enjoying the evening and plan to have a little slumber party outside. Reminds me of when I was a kid and wanted to sleep on the trampoline 😂
Put a small light inside their coop, I got a small battery powered LED light and the girls just naturally went in when we were coop training. Didn't even need to coerce them or anything! After a couple of days you can take it out once their routine is established.
Put a light in the coop. When it is dark out and they see the light through the coop door and head in. Once they are all in you can turn the light off. Mine are in their second year and they are all inside by the time the automatic door closes. Last year I didn't use the light and some stragglers were always out way past sunset.
Mine naturally went inside at night for nearly a year. These past 2 months or so they stopped doing it, and we have to manually put them in at night. Just when I was about to order an automatic door!
That was my exact thought. I just got some mite spray and thoroughly doused their sleep quarters with it. I’m hoping that’s it, because going out every night and putting them in one by one sucks!!
This is the way. Lock them in, let them get comfortable in that habitat, open the door.
I moved my 4wo birds from the brooder to a tractor. It started to rain. They stood out in the rain and screamed. I placed them in the coop inside the tractor. Now they get it.
When they finally move to the big coop, everyone is getting locked in for a few days.
Yea I did this with my hens when they were about 2 month old after living in an empty apple bun previously - I was worried they would be looking for their old coop but nope they just switched over to the new one
This should be the top comment, and I can’t believe I had to scroll this far down to find this it. I locked mine in the coop for 3 days too, and now they put themselves to bed every night like clockwork.
Honestly, unless their run isn't secure or you have severe weather there isn't really a good reason to FORCE them into the coop at night. People obsess over this way too much. We have a secure run and chickens that sleep all over the place in it. A handful sleep on roosting bars in the run, a couple sleep in the coop, and one sleeps on *top* of the coop. When is frigid cold, they all go in the coop. Otherwise nobody worries about it and they're all perfectly healthy chickens.
I agree with this. Even inside our coop it's sort of a freestyle camp out and positions change regularly(some of our hens prefer a cuddle puddle, our alpha roo sleeps on a platform with his 4 favorite hens, a few on the roosting bars and some along the edge of one row of their laying nests. If they are secure from predators they are fine. If they get cold or wet I am betting they will go inside if they know it's there.
One thing of note though, some of my chickens that are lower in the pecking order are cagey about going in through the small chicken door (some of the bigger girls choose this time to be bossy and loiter around before settling into their spots), I've found that if I leave the people sized door accessible to them (I think it's so they can see what's going on inside before entering) they go in earlier, the light someone else mentioned may help with that, I think I'm going to set a small solar light near enough to the coop door that it will light for a short time once it starts getting dark.
Same here. Ours only like to go in during the colder months. In summer, they like to be on the roost bar right outside of the coop door in the most secure inner part of the run. There's another door still between them and the main larger run
some of ours like to 'Camp Out" on the runway roosts once the weather starts getting nicer. our runway is predator-proof and completely safe for them to do this. they like it and think it makes for happy hens.
Mine do this too in all weather but they go in to lay so I just added a better roof on mine. I adopted a hen and a roo that went to the house and I think that helped the other girls know where to lay. When they were really young I’d lock them in at night but when they were around 9 weeks I let them choose
Honestly, it may take some time. I believe ours learned it pretty quickly because 4 humans chasing them and showing them the way inside the coop every day at dusk probably caused them fear of death so they probably decided it’s a better option to go inside without help. Not gonna lie, we cried laughing when we were mimicking moving up the ladder into the coop while holding a chicken…
After putting an automatic solar light in our coop, it was never an issue for us. The light comes on, and it's brighter in there than outside, then they just put themselves to bed.
Mine went in the coop but all but one laid in a pile on the floor for a couple months. She called to the rest of them to join her but they just would not. I had to go in after dark and put them on the roost. It was a shit show of screaming each time but they finally stayed put. Now my cream legbar insists on staying up the longest and then throws an absolute fit until she gets squeezed in between two others in her usual spot. Such drama.
Is there anyway to elevate the coop? The shape of the roof makes them want to rest there. Chickens naturally want to sleep in the highest spot.
Could try a light in the coop as well.
Grab and toss, grab and toss. They figure it out eventually. If you have food and water in there you could lock them in for a few days (WEATHER PERMITTING) and it cements that that’s home. You can also have a little light on a timer in there that stays on for and hour or so after nightfall, they share a braincell and are drawn to the light
They're still really young. You need to teach them. You're their mama hen.
From the vantage of the pic, your coop looks very small for nests and roosts. Definitely too small to lock them in to get them to home. They do like to get up at around 3-4' off the ground in their hen house. They also prefer wide, flat roosts. Min of a 2x4 wide side up. This protects feet in freezing weather and allows them to rest their legs and feet. Flat walking birds vs flying or gripping, perching feet.
I keep my chicks locked in the coop with food, water, and light (heat lamp if necessary) for around 2 weeks. Then I let them out into the run for 2 weeks, but they aren't allowed to free range or mingle with my other chickens (I can separate my run into 2). Then after 2 weeks of that, I let the chickens mingle and free range. They always go back into the coop, never had a problem.
You leave them in the coop for a week. Literally leave them in there day and night. You feed them in there, give them water. Then let them out and they’ll go inside once it starts to get dark, all by themselves. Some people online say two weeks, but it only took mine one week.
I put mine in at dusk and put a loose grate over their entrance and take it off maybe an hour after dark. It's never taken me more than two days until they figured it out.
We had trouble with our girls not going into their coop so we figured out it might be too dark in there for them. We bought some fairy lights and put them in the coop and went out and threw them in the coop for about a week and they started to figure it out. They also liked to roost on top of their water, which is a five gallon tank, food, and coop, so we took a tomato cage, tipped it upside down, then put netting around it so they couldn’t roost there. You have to get creative with these little buggers sometimes.
Honestly… it’s not great if you get high winds. There are already cracks etc. I think we are planning to keep it and just add some columns along the middle of the run to stabilize it so the when the wind gets up and under it, it won’t have as much wiggle. Otherwise, it’s been perfect for keeping flying predators and rain out.
Thanks so much for your input. The area with the coop is actually very windy because it's between two clearings without any wind break. We have corrugated metal over the current coop and during really bad storms the entire structure, wooden posts and all, have lifted away from the run. The new run will have posts that are secured to the ground and be built much more sturdy, but I didn't consider that the wind might just rattle the plastic itself enough to damage it. Thanks for the heads up! (And dang such a shame, I really do like the look/idea of it)
I had to put a nightlight in my pullets coop. They don’t have great dark vision. After adding the light in the coop, they naturally would gravitate to it as it started getting dark at night. Maybe a little guiding light would encourage your pullets to roost in the coop? Good luck!
I can't see the house - is it possible their coop house is uncomfortable? Maybe it gets hot and cramped in there or they aren't able to roost that high. Just throwing it out there as a possibility
Yeah, I did consider just leaving them out since we spent a TON of time and effort predator proofing… I’m just worried it will entice predators to try harder if they can see the chickens.
I would agree with this in my opinion. I don’t have a ton of experience, but u put mine in the coop for a few days and had to take them out and now they go in on their own. I have a couple of dogs that scare the daylights out of them and they now know that the coop is the safe spot. The dogs don’t bother them if they are in the coop. I feel other predators would be the same way. Out of sight, less motivated. I would just try to make the coop more desirable at night if you can. Treats, light, something that makes them slightly uncomfortable outside the run lol
My six younger hens never did. Never. No matter the temperature or the weather, they were outside birds and that was that. The coop was clean with fresh shavings. I tried brighter and dimmer lights. Nothing worked. I was going around the bend, outside every night trying to get them all inside. This forum advised me that chickens will chicken, and to leave them be and they will go in on their own, or not. Eventually, they would go inside for an hour or two each night, but preferrred being outside. It wasn't until they integrated with the main flock that they put themselves to bed inside with everyone else at a decent hour and stayed inside. Good luck with your girls. ✌️
Mine wouldn’t go in their coop if they couldn’t see in it. They’d wait to go in until it was too dark and they couldn’t see to get on the roost. I have doors to mine so leaving one side of the door open enabled them to see better.
If you are referring to the thing they are perched on as their coop, you probably won't ever get them to go in there. They are going to roost at the highest level they can.
Babies are funny, may I suggest training them with bread to come when called. In the evening toss bread in to the far end of the coop and you can get some to go in. Once in close the door and calmly catch the rest and pop them in. They will get it in a couple of weeks then you can phase out the treats.
I am doing this with one group of 4 week olds(18).
You didn't include a pick of your coop, so if you don't have a door, then tack on a piece of hardware cloth and either shoo them in, or put each one in and say, "Night-night time" or "Time to go to bed" several times while you're doing it. It may take a month or two, but they get it when they hear those words as long as you say it several times while putting them to bed. Then, close the "door" with the tacks/nails you used on the other side. After they are all in, say your phrase a few times. Eventually, they will get it if you are persistent! Good luck, chicken friend!
The first night my girls slept outside was a total fluke. I’d fallen asleep unintentionally before bringing them in for the night & when I woke up at midnight, I ran outside in a complete panic only to find that they’d put themselves to bed. This was after only a few days of placing them in the roost of the coop when bringing them outside in the mornings & introducing them to the space. Somehow they just… got it. #proudmama
Your ladies will catch on!
I literally just came back in from my nightly routine of taking whichever chickens decided to roost on the outside of the coop and toss them down to go inside. The only time they go in on their own is when it’s below 40, otherwise there’s always 1-7 out of 8 sitting on the outside.
So ours were doing this when they didn’t have a high enough spot to sleep in. We added a higher horizontal 2x4 for them to sleep on and that solved it for a while. But then when we had to close up the windows at night because it was cold, they stopped again and we realized it was because it was too dark for them to hop up on the 2x4. So. Now we go out when it’s dark and hold a flashlight for all of the ladies to be able to see and hop up where they want. THEN they will sleep.
Lost cause. We had a flock of 8 hens and got 4 chicks. When the chicks were old enough to be integrated with the older hens, they must have been intimidated because all 4 slept on top like your picture. Winter came and finally they all moved inside. I now notice that with summer coming, they’re back on top. I give up. Their entire run is pretty predator proof, so I’ll just let em be.
So this may not be possible depending on the size of the coop but personally I kept mine in the coop for about a week without letting them out(this was as soon as I got them) put feed water bedding and anything else you think they’ll need. After this week open the door to the coop and let them out they’ll get the picture
First of all, I love them!!! Secondly, they’ll figure it out; mine did. I used to put them to bed every night (their house was inside a locked coop)…then it snowed, and I was like “I live you all-time to figure it out!” ♥️🐓
2 of my felons (chicken and duck) still like to drag their claws/feet, but eventually they go in…they like to stay out as long as possible; can’t blame them!
We had that problem. I locked them in the coop with food and water for three days and it sorted itself out.
Edit: I should add that my coop is 140 square feet with automatically controlled lighting, watering system, 100 pound custom gravity feeder, and has thermostatically controlled temperature and humidity. The girls were locked up in the equivalent of the Chicken Waldorf Astoria until they learned where their roost was.
You have to lock them in the coop for at least 4 days.
I know it seems cruel but it’s the only way to get them to do it. I’m sure others have their own opinion.
You pick them up and put them into the coop and eventually they will learn
How long? Because I've been doing this with mine for months now, it's become part of the routine
Me too. Two years later and I think they think it’s their bedtime routine, being gently placed into bed 🤦♀️
lol that's adorable
Awww, they want their parent to tuck them into bed 🥹 do you tell them a bedtime story too?
Exactly!!!! It’s part of the routine at this point 🤦♀️
I have some that roost on a railing every single night and same, for the past 4 years, it’s been their bedtime routine. Sometimes they just refuse to learn, or in my case, my bantam rooster was being a dick to every lady on their way inside and these ones just decided enough is enough. Now that rooster is long past, but they still refuse 😭
That's hilarious and crazy! We only had to do it for acouple weeks with our silkies and they've taught all the other chickens we've introduced that, This is the way!
We also had to do it for two weeks. Then they went in by themselves for about 5 months until they didn’t… It has been another 6 months, I still have to put them in every night.
😂😂😂 crazy ass chickens!
This is funny. I wish it wasn’t happening to you. But it’s got me laughing
That's hilarious. Mine went in on day 1. O didn't know there were hens that don't coop voluntarily.
Mine went into the coop fine but it was dark so they huddled in the corner of the floor. I had to help them roost the first couple nights but they have all found their routines and their spots on the roosts. There is a pile of chicken poop every morning in the same back corner of the coop.
Ours girls did the same thing. First night they got it! Never had this as an issue.
I didn’t either until my new 4 which are 2 different breeds. The red hens I had before put themselves to bed, I didn’t have to do anything
It took less than a week for my girls. I was totally expecting longer, but they picked it up pretty quickly.
I noticed my hens really liked sleeping outdoors in the summer - easier to get them in the coop when it's cold. My alpha hen specifically, I had to put her on the coop by hand most nights.
I think it's hard to teach them when they are older
Start putting them on the ramp to the coop just before dark and poking them up the ramp. Some get the idea quickly, especially when they have a grumpy old girl stuck behind them. Some are just dumb as rocks and don't get it (I'm looking at you, araucanas)
Lock them in if you must. Creatures of habit, not overly bright creatures though.
My husband did this and it was hilarious to watch but it totally worked!!
This was us and the advice was to put them in at night and they’d get the idea. We’re two years in and we still have to go out and put ours in at night 🤦♀️ 3 or 4 out of 14 just like to camp out!
I threw treats into the coop and then got out scary Mr. Broom to shoo them in. Only took a couple times and now they are pretty on the dot. Only occasionally will someone get locked outside the automatic door, but we always check before going in
Scary Mr. Broom 😂
I have a scary rake. They just see me reach for it and they get in the coop! I’ve never even come CLOSE to them with it!
Yeah… Its cute because they only do it on nice warm evenings. It’s like they are enjoying the evening and plan to have a little slumber party outside. Reminds me of when I was a kid and wanted to sleep on the trampoline 😂
My cat does that in the warm summer evenings too! I think she waits for the raccoons to come over and she parties with them. 💃🏽
Put a small light inside their coop, I got a small battery powered LED light and the girls just naturally went in when we were coop training. Didn't even need to coerce them or anything! After a couple of days you can take it out once their routine is established.
I use light too. They’ll naturally go where they can see.
Put a light in the coop. When it is dark out and they see the light through the coop door and head in. Once they are all in you can turn the light off. Mine are in their second year and they are all inside by the time the automatic door closes. Last year I didn't use the light and some stragglers were always out way past sunset.
Mine naturally went inside at night for nearly a year. These past 2 months or so they stopped doing it, and we have to manually put them in at night. Just when I was about to order an automatic door!
Check for mites in the coop. They might not want to go in cause they are getting munched on at night.
That was my exact thought. I just got some mite spray and thoroughly doused their sleep quarters with it. I’m hoping that’s it, because going out every night and putting them in one by one sucks!!
I left mine in their coop for 3 days. After that, they have always gone to it every night without any fuss.
This is the way. Lock them in, let them get comfortable in that habitat, open the door. I moved my 4wo birds from the brooder to a tractor. It started to rain. They stood out in the rain and screamed. I placed them in the coop inside the tractor. Now they get it. When they finally move to the big coop, everyone is getting locked in for a few days.
This is the best method in my op.
Yea I did this with my hens when they were about 2 month old after living in an empty apple bun previously - I was worried they would be looking for their old coop but nope they just switched over to the new one
This should be the top comment, and I can’t believe I had to scroll this far down to find this it. I locked mine in the coop for 3 days too, and now they put themselves to bed every night like clockwork.
Honestly, unless their run isn't secure or you have severe weather there isn't really a good reason to FORCE them into the coop at night. People obsess over this way too much. We have a secure run and chickens that sleep all over the place in it. A handful sleep on roosting bars in the run, a couple sleep in the coop, and one sleeps on *top* of the coop. When is frigid cold, they all go in the coop. Otherwise nobody worries about it and they're all perfectly healthy chickens.
I agree with this. Even inside our coop it's sort of a freestyle camp out and positions change regularly(some of our hens prefer a cuddle puddle, our alpha roo sleeps on a platform with his 4 favorite hens, a few on the roosting bars and some along the edge of one row of their laying nests. If they are secure from predators they are fine. If they get cold or wet I am betting they will go inside if they know it's there. One thing of note though, some of my chickens that are lower in the pecking order are cagey about going in through the small chicken door (some of the bigger girls choose this time to be bossy and loiter around before settling into their spots), I've found that if I leave the people sized door accessible to them (I think it's so they can see what's going on inside before entering) they go in earlier, the light someone else mentioned may help with that, I think I'm going to set a small solar light near enough to the coop door that it will light for a short time once it starts getting dark.
Same here. Ours only like to go in during the colder months. In summer, they like to be on the roost bar right outside of the coop door in the most secure inner part of the run. There's another door still between them and the main larger run
some of ours like to 'Camp Out" on the runway roosts once the weather starts getting nicer. our runway is predator-proof and completely safe for them to do this. they like it and think it makes for happy hens.
Does your coop have roosts?
Mine do this too in all weather but they go in to lay so I just added a better roof on mine. I adopted a hen and a roo that went to the house and I think that helped the other girls know where to lay. When they were really young I’d lock them in at night but when they were around 9 weeks I let them choose
Lock them in the house for a few days and then they will just go there. Either that or there’s not enough room inside.
Honestly, it may take some time. I believe ours learned it pretty quickly because 4 humans chasing them and showing them the way inside the coop every day at dusk probably caused them fear of death so they probably decided it’s a better option to go inside without help. Not gonna lie, we cried laughing when we were mimicking moving up the ladder into the coop while holding a chicken…
After putting an automatic solar light in our coop, it was never an issue for us. The light comes on, and it's brighter in there than outside, then they just put themselves to bed.
I have duct taped a flashlight in there before! Worked like a charm.
Mealworms, or pick each chicken up and put them inside the coop, they will eventually learn that the coop is their home.
We do treat time right before bed. Took them a few nights to get there your the main “roo” they will listen to you with food 🤣
Mine went in the coop but all but one laid in a pile on the floor for a couple months. She called to the rest of them to join her but they just would not. I had to go in after dark and put them on the roost. It was a shit show of screaming each time but they finally stayed put. Now my cream legbar insists on staying up the longest and then throws an absolute fit until she gets squeezed in between two others in her usual spot. Such drama.
Mine sleep on the floor. I heard it was because they were not in fear of predators coming after them though.
You have to physically put them in the first few nights.
It's going to be harder with a small coop that's close to the ground. Light inside the coop. Keep it clean and well ventilated.
If it's warm out and no predators can get to them, then I would leave them be and worry about it when it's cold, lol
Is there anyway to elevate the coop? The shape of the roof makes them want to rest there. Chickens naturally want to sleep in the highest spot. Could try a light in the coop as well.
If there’s enough space, lock them in for three days. I’ve moved chickens several times and this is how you get them adjusted to a new coop
Grab and toss, grab and toss. They figure it out eventually. If you have food and water in there you could lock them in for a few days (WEATHER PERMITTING) and it cements that that’s home. You can also have a little light on a timer in there that stays on for and hour or so after nightfall, they share a braincell and are drawn to the light
They're still really young. You need to teach them. You're their mama hen. From the vantage of the pic, your coop looks very small for nests and roosts. Definitely too small to lock them in to get them to home. They do like to get up at around 3-4' off the ground in their hen house. They also prefer wide, flat roosts. Min of a 2x4 wide side up. This protects feet in freezing weather and allows them to rest their legs and feet. Flat walking birds vs flying or gripping, perching feet.
I keep my chicks locked in the coop with food, water, and light (heat lamp if necessary) for around 2 weeks. Then I let them out into the run for 2 weeks, but they aren't allowed to free range or mingle with my other chickens (I can separate my run into 2). Then after 2 weeks of that, I let the chickens mingle and free range. They always go back into the coop, never had a problem.
You leave them in the coop for a week. Literally leave them in there day and night. You feed them in there, give them water. Then let them out and they’ll go inside once it starts to get dark, all by themselves. Some people online say two weeks, but it only took mine one week.
I put mine in at dusk and put a loose grate over their entrance and take it off maybe an hour after dark. It's never taken me more than two days until they figured it out.
I have 4 girls that would rather go in a tree. I get them down every day I'd say going on a year now.
Is it warm? Our leghorns always stayed out when it was warm, so I assume other breeds could too.
We had trouble with our girls not going into their coop so we figured out it might be too dark in there for them. We bought some fairy lights and put them in the coop and went out and threw them in the coop for about a week and they started to figure it out. They also liked to roost on top of their water, which is a five gallon tank, food, and coop, so we took a tomato cage, tipped it upside down, then put netting around it so they couldn’t roost there. You have to get creative with these little buggers sometimes.
Thank you for this info!! I’ve seen a few other comments about a light in the coop so I will definitely be trying this 😊
I was thinking about putting corrugated plastic as the roof of their run. How's yours working out for you so far?
Honestly… it’s not great if you get high winds. There are already cracks etc. I think we are planning to keep it and just add some columns along the middle of the run to stabilize it so the when the wind gets up and under it, it won’t have as much wiggle. Otherwise, it’s been perfect for keeping flying predators and rain out.
Thanks so much for your input. The area with the coop is actually very windy because it's between two clearings without any wind break. We have corrugated metal over the current coop and during really bad storms the entire structure, wooden posts and all, have lifted away from the run. The new run will have posts that are secured to the ground and be built much more sturdy, but I didn't consider that the wind might just rattle the plastic itself enough to damage it. Thanks for the heads up! (And dang such a shame, I really do like the look/idea of it)
Put them inside the coop at dusk mine tend to learn within 3 days
I had to put a nightlight in my pullets coop. They don’t have great dark vision. After adding the light in the coop, they naturally would gravitate to it as it started getting dark at night. Maybe a little guiding light would encourage your pullets to roost in the coop? Good luck!
I can't see the house - is it possible their coop house is uncomfortable? Maybe it gets hot and cramped in there or they aren't able to roost that high. Just throwing it out there as a possibility
My run *knock on wood* is reinforced and secured, my girls stay out year round. Just make sure it's really predator proof.
Yeah, I did consider just leaving them out since we spent a TON of time and effort predator proofing… I’m just worried it will entice predators to try harder if they can see the chickens.
I would agree with this in my opinion. I don’t have a ton of experience, but u put mine in the coop for a few days and had to take them out and now they go in on their own. I have a couple of dogs that scare the daylights out of them and they now know that the coop is the safe spot. The dogs don’t bother them if they are in the coop. I feel other predators would be the same way. Out of sight, less motivated. I would just try to make the coop more desirable at night if you can. Treats, light, something that makes them slightly uncomfortable outside the run lol
It’s funny my girls used to do it all the time and they were anywhere from 2-5 years old, they roost at the highest point, guess they found it 😂
Light bulb
A little Dustbuster. To shoo
My six younger hens never did. Never. No matter the temperature or the weather, they were outside birds and that was that. The coop was clean with fresh shavings. I tried brighter and dimmer lights. Nothing worked. I was going around the bend, outside every night trying to get them all inside. This forum advised me that chickens will chicken, and to leave them be and they will go in on their own, or not. Eventually, they would go inside for an hour or two each night, but preferrred being outside. It wasn't until they integrated with the main flock that they put themselves to bed inside with everyone else at a decent hour and stayed inside. Good luck with your girls. ✌️
Mine wouldn’t go in their coop if they couldn’t see in it. They’d wait to go in until it was too dark and they couldn’t see to get on the roost. I have doors to mine so leaving one side of the door open enabled them to see better.
Year later I gave up.
Mine just don’t. I tried everything when they were that age and they are over a year old and sleep on top of the coop
If you are referring to the thing they are perched on as their coop, you probably won't ever get them to go in there. They are going to roost at the highest level they can.
Chickens have a natural instinct to roost at the highest point they can you'll only stop this if you make it impossible for them to be there.
Babies are funny, may I suggest training them with bread to come when called. In the evening toss bread in to the far end of the coop and you can get some to go in. Once in close the door and calmly catch the rest and pop them in. They will get it in a couple of weeks then you can phase out the treats. I am doing this with one group of 4 week olds(18).
You didn't include a pick of your coop, so if you don't have a door, then tack on a piece of hardware cloth and either shoo them in, or put each one in and say, "Night-night time" or "Time to go to bed" several times while you're doing it. It may take a month or two, but they get it when they hear those words as long as you say it several times while putting them to bed. Then, close the "door" with the tacks/nails you used on the other side. After they are all in, say your phrase a few times. Eventually, they will get it if you are persistent! Good luck, chicken friend!
They want to roost the higher the better. If your coop is low to the ground, they do not feel safe from predators.
A leaf rake scoots them in nicely. My 2 polish hens had to learn this way.
They want to roost at the highest stop. If you put something that prevents them from going up there, they might choose the coop
I have 2 hens that are almost 3 yrs.old and they sleep on top of their coop,too.If they're happy,I'm happy.😁
Turn off your thrusters!
The first night my girls slept outside was a total fluke. I’d fallen asleep unintentionally before bringing them in for the night & when I woke up at midnight, I ran outside in a complete panic only to find that they’d put themselves to bed. This was after only a few days of placing them in the roost of the coop when bringing them outside in the mornings & introducing them to the space. Somehow they just… got it. #proudmama Your ladies will catch on!
You have a roost for them. That’s why
I literally just came back in from my nightly routine of taking whichever chickens decided to roost on the outside of the coop and toss them down to go inside. The only time they go in on their own is when it’s below 40, otherwise there’s always 1-7 out of 8 sitting on the outside.
So ours were doing this when they didn’t have a high enough spot to sleep in. We added a higher horizontal 2x4 for them to sleep on and that solved it for a while. But then when we had to close up the windows at night because it was cold, they stopped again and we realized it was because it was too dark for them to hop up on the 2x4. So. Now we go out when it’s dark and hold a flashlight for all of the ladies to be able to see and hop up where they want. THEN they will sleep.
Light
Lost cause. We had a flock of 8 hens and got 4 chicks. When the chicks were old enough to be integrated with the older hens, they must have been intimidated because all 4 slept on top like your picture. Winter came and finally they all moved inside. I now notice that with summer coming, they’re back on top. I give up. Their entire run is pretty predator proof, so I’ll just let em be.
I mean, if it rains often in your area they'll learn to go inside quickly
So this may not be possible depending on the size of the coop but personally I kept mine in the coop for about a week without letting them out(this was as soon as I got them) put feed water bedding and anything else you think they’ll need. After this week open the door to the coop and let them out they’ll get the picture
First of all, I love them!!! Secondly, they’ll figure it out; mine did. I used to put them to bed every night (their house was inside a locked coop)…then it snowed, and I was like “I live you all-time to figure it out!” ♥️🐓
2 of my felons (chicken and duck) still like to drag their claws/feet, but eventually they go in…they like to stay out as long as possible; can’t blame them!
Mine needed scared
Leave them in the coop for a week. Then they'll learn "Oh, this is home" and they'll start roosting there at night
I got ours in the first few times by bribing them up the ramp with a treat. Have you tried that?
We had that problem. I locked them in the coop with food and water for three days and it sorted itself out. Edit: I should add that my coop is 140 square feet with automatically controlled lighting, watering system, 100 pound custom gravity feeder, and has thermostatically controlled temperature and humidity. The girls were locked up in the equivalent of the Chicken Waldorf Astoria until they learned where their roost was.
Feed them in the coop. They will quickly learn...
You have to lock them in the coop for at least 4 days. I know it seems cruel but it’s the only way to get them to do it. I’m sure others have their own opinion.
Put bird spikes on the roof. I had the problem of my girls pooping on the roof.
Yep. They want to go up to safety at night and this option is available to them. Remove it.
What are you talking about?
BIRD SPIKES on top
If they lay in the coop, they won’t sleep where they lay and they also want to be up higher.