Newbie question

[MsMarvellous]

We've just got our first four chickens today. Getting them to go back into the coop tonight hasn't been the easiest.

How am I best to teach them to go in to safety at the right time each night?

Any wisdom gratefully received.

We always kept ours close to the house for the first few days and they learned that their house was in that location. Much easier if they take themselves to bed and you don't put them in- otherwise they'll never learn where it is for themselves!

Mind you, some of them liked roosting in the trees in the summer and had to be knocked out at dusk!

They're in a run at the mo but didn't want to go back. Maybe tomorrow will be easier once they've had a night in their house!

Is the house in/attached to the run? We have our house in the run and the first two nights they all went to sleep on top and we lifted them in once they were sleepy. Night 3 and 4 some of them found their way in the house and by night 5 they were all putting themselves in the house.

It won't help you now but whenever you get new hens you should put them into the coop and shut them in for 4ish hours before you let them anywhere else. Then they see it as "safe" and will go back in.

It's too late for that now so the best thing to do will be to put a light/torch in the coop and keep the hens in that area until dusk. They'll choose to go into the light coop rather than staying out in the dark.

Really the person selling you the hens should have checked whether you knew what you were doing and offered appropriate advice. Buy from a more reputable seller next time, it might cost you an extra £3/4 a hen but it's well worth it.

Thanks all. The seller said we should shut them in for an hour which we did. Isn't hindsight 20:20!

@User0ne I'll follow your tips tomorrow!

They'll go in once they know it is where they roost - it'll take a few days, they are not bright! If you can, feed them in the house so they come in for their dinner - that way you can shut the door before it is dark and mr fox is sniffing around. Again it will take them a few days. Don't let them out to free range before they have bonded with their new home - they'll leg it!

You may need to lift them on to their perches the first few nights too.