The comment seems to be missing now, but someone messaged me to ask if you should lock up chickens in the coop for a week to get them used to it. In this case, we opted not to - while knowing we'd have to make sure to get all the chickens in each night. We expected it to take a week. It only took 3 days. So no, you don't have to lock the chickens inside of a coop - if you're willing to round 'em all up every day for a few days. Also, we only did this with adult chickens who had an established leader. If this was pullets or chicks? Go for the inside the coop for a bit option.
Hi, we just built a new much bigger coop for our girls and they adjusted getting in just fine, but they are not roosting on the bars in the coop. They are sleeping on the floor of the coop. Any suggestions?
When I need to keep them contained, we keep the doors and chicken exits on the covered run closed. Then the chickens can go from the coop to the covered run, but that's all they can pick between.
