Chickens need night light and bedtime story...

[Ninja Squirrel]

Hello poultry friends!

I wonder if anyone can offer some suggestions on how to get out of a pickle I've got myself into with my latest additions - some ex bats who are now a little spoilt.

I have an original flock of hens with 2 roos, who all take themselves off to the coop at dusk, just like they should.

Then my new flock of hens, who free range all day with all the others, have their own roo, who takes himself to bed in a different coop at an appropriate time, and it sounds like he's trying to encourage the girls in.

But these girls like to stay out late, until it's so dark that they can't see to get into the coop and roost. Instead they go into the run area outside the coop, and wait for me to go inside and put the night light on for them. Every night.

Once the light is on, they all take themselves inside and roost. Then I read them a bedtime story and switch off the light . OK, I don't really read them a story (most nights), but it still feels ridiculous.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can get them to go to bed before it's too dark for them to see inside?

Thanks in advance!

 

[50-45-1]

Set the light on a timer so they go in at the appeopriate time.
Have it set to go off soo after.
They should adjust soon and figure it out.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I have a solar panel and my lights are hooked up to it, when the sun goes down the lights go on, and when I am ready to say goodnight (I always count them before I go to sleep) I turn the lights off - my husband put a timer on it once, but the lights stayed on an extra hour when daylight savings hit and I hated it...might try it again, but I like saying goodnight

 

[Ninja Squirrel]

Thanks 50! Thanks Grits!
I'll get something set up on a timer. I just wonder why they stay up so late? Maybe they're just loving their new found freedom (although I thought after 3 months they would have settled in).

 

[aart]

I just wonder why they stay up so late? Maybe they're just loving their new found freedom (although I thought after 3 months they would have settled in).

How old are they?
The light should work.

 

[Ninja Squirrel]

They're almost 2 years old, and I've had them for 3 months. They stay out even later than my pullets ever did.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As ex-battery hens they never had to figure that out. But you say the light works so that sounds like a good solution.

How dark is it in the coop as the sun goes down? Would a window to let in more natural light help?

You say they roost when they go inside. Do they use roosts in the run? After three months of putting them in at night you'd think they would have learned by now to go in to the roosts. I think I'd be getting frustrating too.

 

[Ninja Squirrel]

Thanks Ridgerunner!
I don't really mind too much, I always tuck them up every night regardless. It just seems a bit odd and I'd rather they were all safely away before it gets dark.

Yes, there are roosts in the run, which they hop up on, and then more roosts inside the coop. Admittedly I sometimes find Deirdre blocking the pop hole, but I soon nudge her out of the way.

My older girls all used to use this coop very happily. Every so often one of them decides to camp out in there too (usually resulting in five minutes of me running around looking for them, presuming the worst, as they're not where they're meant to be).

Longer term we're thinking of a larger coop, with a (west facing?) window, that both flocks could sleep in. They all seem to get along ok with enough room to not bother each other, so maybe the new girls would get the idea if they were all bunking together.

Thanks for your input, and I should take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you for all the help you've given me over the last 2 years with your replies to other users. I've been through a number of cockerel dilemmas and your advice has always been brilliant and backed up my instincts, and I now have a very happy flock!