First Bedtime

[123wkd456]

We have picked up our chickens today. They seem to have settled into the run ok, all three of them have been eating the pellets and drinking the water. We now appear to have a bit of a problem getting them into the coop. One of them has made her way up and it sat at the top of the ramp. The other two are huddled underneath the coop. Is it ok to leave them there? The run is fully protected with mesh and a roof on the top. Will they make it up into the coop in there own time? The space beneath the coop is a bit tight for us to try to get at them to pick them up.

[ock]

you are going to have to try and pick them up and put them in the coop or maybe try putting a torch in there, they may go up to the light, I had to pick mine up and put them in for the first couple of nights

[GerryOB]

You could try shutting the pop hole door, then picking them up one at a time and putting them in the coop. We bought ours home in the evening, so put them straight in the coop and they didn't have access to the run until the following morning. By then they had realised where bed was and went in of their own accord by 8.30 the following evening, and have done ever since. If you are fox proof, then they won't come to any harm but I'd try to encourage them to go in the coop to establish a bedtime routine. Just don't read them 'chicken run' as a bedtime story

[123wkd456]

Thank you very much for your advise. Just picked them up and put them away. Like you say best to get them into a bit of a routine. I'm sure they will eventually learn what to do.

[ock]

I`m sure they`ll find their own way to bed tomorrow

[perchy]

It may take a few nights, but the torch is good, I used it and it worked a treat

[ock]

It may take a few nights, but the torch is good, I used it and it worked a treat

and it gives them a chance to read a book for half an hour before they go to sleep

[123wkd456]

Now they are in there we are already thinking of what time we should be letting them out again in the morning. Is it a case of as early as possible?

[ock]

I normally let mine out about 7.30 before I go to work, but you`ll prob be up really early tomorrow morning dying to get out there to check on them , I know I was

[Steve the Gas]

In all honesty - it would be best for the hens to be let out when its light, but we're only human and like to sleep.

[Grannyof4]

Forget sleep you now have chickens. It is really each to their own. I am a real morning person so up with the lark and my chickens, ducks and rest of the rabble are all done early. The winters are long and dark so I like to give my chickens as much freedom as possible in the summer. If you have neighbours and you have the sort of chickens who are rather noisy if left shut in then you may well have to get up and let them out. Play it by ear!!!!!

[Stef]

Play it by ear seems right. We've had ours 2 weeks and 1 day and one of ours lets me know she wants out at about 6am, she seems really loud to me!

Ours went to bed fine, but the man who delivered them put them in the box and let them find their own way down the ramp. They even lay their eggs in the right place!

They stayed up late (10ish) for a couple of days, though that may have been the OH watching them, but are in bed by about 8.45 now!

I'm hoping they will sleep in later as the light changes!

[Bambi]

I too was having problems with bedtime but the guys on here recommended waiting until it was dark and they would go to bed and hey presto we haven't looked back since

[wendy]

Yep mine are up between 7 and 7.30
Wendy

[p.penn]

I have an auto door, so it opens at first light and closes at dusk. I really love it as it means that the chickens make the most of every daylight hour.