[gsc]

 I don't know if I did the right thing.

When my girls didn't take themselves to bed I decided trying to make them would be more stressful than leaving them.  I can't get inside the run - it's too small.

I've just been to look - 4.30am - and 1 is indoors and the other three peacefully settled on the grass.

What do I do if they don't work this out by tonight?  Is the ramp maybe too steep?  They have been raised in large open barns.

[joyfull]

try putting either some corn in their coup so they go inside or put a light inside so they can see where to go. If necessary pick each one up and lift them in (I know you said you cant get into their run but you would have to lay kneel down and grab them (can't you tell that I have had to do the same  ). Foxes can dig under so if you are aware of any foxes you should do all you can to secure your hens. A couple of mine used to sleep out in the open in trees and under a lorry cab but now all my chickens sleep in coups.

[gsc]

I guess I am going to have to be a bit of a contortionist then.  Haven't plucked up the courage to handle them yet.  Was worried about stressing them after the move.

I also wasn't sure what they were making of the dogs being around.  Since they all got a shock from the fence fairly quickly, they haven't paid much attention to the hens at all so that's good.  I had to laugh at Sam though.  She came out with me this morning and stopped a foot from the fence and growled a low rumble at them as if she held them personally responsible for the shock she got yesterday.

[joyfull]

my dogs now ignore my chickens but at the moment the guinea fowl are puzzling them so I am having to keep a close eye on the dogs 

[Casey76]

The more you handle them the better it will come.  If they ahve come from a breeder who doesn't handle the chickens very often, the forst few times you do catch them will be a bit of a stress (for the both of you!)

You may just have to make a grab for them at first... do so round the body, not the tail or a leg.

[Flowerpower136]

I wouldn't like the idea of my girls sleeping out of the coop, even though the run is as fox proof as I can make it.

Are your chooks new, and just haven't got the hang of it, or is this a sudden thing?

If they usually go in, and now don't want to, there might be something wrong, eg red mite.

If they are new, and just don't know yet where they are supposed to sleep, then do persevere with efforts to get them in.  Once they've know where is nice to sleep, they'll just go in on their own.  Well mine always do anyway

As Joy has suggested, give them a trail of corn and then shut the door!

[gsc]

I will be trying again tonighyt - let's hope the corn trail works - or shall I try it during the day?

[joyfull]

I would try in the evening 

[Aunt Sally]

If they usually go in, and now don't want to, there might be something wrong, eg red mite.

Have you checked ?

[gsc]

If they usually go in, and now don't want to, there might be something wrong, eg red mite.

Have you checked ?

Only bought them yesterday and he made a point of telling me he checks for red mite regularly and did so at the weekends - all clear.

I guess they just haven't sussed it yet.

[Aunt Sally]

Ah, I didn't realise you only got them yesterday

Here's a little trick that usually works.

As it is getting dark put a torch inside the coop so that the hens can see that there is light inside.  They will investigate it as the sky gets darker and  probably go in.  When they are safely inside and the pop hole shut you can remove the torch. 

It will probably only needed to do it for a few nights.

[Flowerpower136]

Oh, if they are that new, it's just that they don't know where they are supposed to be sleeping yet!  If you can give them some guidance for the first few evenings, they'll soon get the hang of it!

Got visions of chooks with torches trying to find their beds

[Aunt Sally]

Got visions of chooks with torches trying to find their beds

 

It really does work - to a hen darkness = danger,   light = safety.

[gsc]

I'm getting the idea.  Thanks all. 

[bacchus51]

Do you not have another entrance into coop, e.g. to retrieve eggs. Put the chickens in the coop and let them find their own way out, thereby they will know where home is and how to get back there.