[wolverine]

My chickens have started going to bed very late it's still light. If I want an early night do you think it's mean to lock them up before they are ready. I feel bad putting them to bed when they are not ready

[Aunt Sally]

What time are they going to bed.

It's dark here by 9.30 now.  I don't go to bed that early !

[wolverine]

well I sometimes go to bed earlier than that I don't sleep well and try and get a head start. I've been going to bed then setting my alarm for about 9:45 to put them in. I want to put them in about eight.  I looked at electric doors but mine is horizontal sliding. I could modify it I guess.  anyway will cooling them up for a bit before they are ready be a problem? I feel bad doing it but surely once they are in they will nod off?

[joyfull]

If you have a large coup (such as a shed with only a few chickens in it) you could try chucking some corn in to get them to in. However shortening their daylight hours will mean that their egg production will go down - poultry breeders add artificial lighting in their hen houses to keep production of eggs up  . I usually get up at 5 and normally go to bed about 9 - 9.30 but whilst the days are lighter I too am having to wait until 10pm so that my girls and boys can go when they are ready.

[carolbriar]

Mine go in at about 9.45 - 10pm.  It is still quite light then here.  There are some evenings I think, I would like to go to bed at about 9.30 and it is then that they seem to decide 10pm is a much better time to go to bed.  There is still another month before the longest day and that means lighter evenings with us until about 11pm.  It will be interesting to see what time they head off to bed then.

[Aunt Sally]

I think you need an automatic pop hole door wolverine 

[sarah f]

mine seem to make there way off to bed at about 8.30 then they are  camping behind the hatch door waiting for nightly treats