Chickens that spend the night in an enclosed house are protected from predators that roam in the dark. Chickens naturally want to 'come home to roost', although they may need to learn where their home is. How to train your chickens to go to their coop at night.
Location onnice hutthat provides protection against wind and rain, including comfortperches for the chickens to sit on, and can be closed to prevent thisnocturnal prowlerscome in while the chickens are sleeping.
Make sure the coop is large enough for the number of chickens in your flock and has adequate access to feeding and water stations to preventchopping ordersarguments. Also make sure that there is enough daylight in the coop so that the chickens can find their way around. If the windows do not provide enough light, light a candle during the day.
When you move your flock into the yard, confine them for the first three or four days.
In hot weather, ensure that the temperature in the cup does not exceed 75ºC. If necessary, provide additional ventilation or install a fan. Windows can be left open if the openings are covered with hardware cloth to keep the chickens in and predators out.
During the first confinement, the chickens learn to see the farm as their home. When you're ready to let them out, open the door and let the chicks decide to go outside on their own. They may be reluctant to go outside at first. Or the bolder pack members may wander out, while the more timid members stay behind. Eventually, the timid chickens will follow the braver chickens. Let them do their thing.
When it gets dark, the chickens should go back into the garden to grab a snack and jump into the coop. If the chickens tend to be a bit dark at dusk, leaving a light inside the chickens will encourage the chicks to flock to the lighter chickens as the sky darkens.
Check for stragglers outside the coop the first few evenings before closing for the night. Chickens that sleep outside or perch in trees should be rounded up and placed indoors. If most of the herd stays outside,pick them upand repeat the confinement for a few more days before releasing them again. Some flocks are quicker to catch, while others take a little extra patience, but eventually your chickens will learn to go to their coop alone at night.
And that's today's news from Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow, author,Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens
