MadWelly71 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Hi Has anyone here experienced problems when it comes to Bed Time? I have a big coop with an automatic door opener. Usually all my girls are going back into their coops as soon as the light starts to fade and are well settled by the time the door closes. I got 3 more ex-batt chicks a few weeks ago and two of them have well settled into their bedtime routine but the third one, Mae West, is having a battle of wills with Truly Yours here as she has decided she is sleeping outside. So now I go out every evening before my last round and put her in the coop to make sure she is safe. I would have thought that by now she is used to the routine of going into the coop herself given that she wakes up there but Oh No! With the nights drawing in earlier and earlier and the weather getting colder, this cant continue. I have tried treats & all and there is more than enough space in the coop/ no mites etc. I have only had these girls for a few weeks and I think Mae is actually Top Hen so why is she staying outside? Any ideas how to train a stubborn chicken into BedTime Routine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 maybe she's waiting to be sure everyone else has gone in to bed?! have you tried the old torch inside the coop trick? you leave a torch in there shining outwards, and it attracts them towards the light. you could give it a try, it has always worked for me tho I know others say it didnt work for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Could the others be stopping her from going to bed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadWelly71 Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 Hi All, Thanks for the advice, never heard about the torch trick but as I am at home today, I will definitely give it a try. The others usually go in way before her and certainly don't prevent her from coming into the coop. I have tried countless times to put her in the coop straight after the others have gone in. There is never any trouble/ arguments etc. but she still keeps coming out again and goes back to her favourite place on the beehive storage box. I was wondering whether she has picked up this old habit from her time in the battery. I also wondered if she likes to be up high as she feels the safest there but then again there are loads of perches in the coop which none of them use (yet). Ok, torch it is tonight, not long until it gets dark so let's see what happen; I shall report back shortly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Maybe she thinks she's never going to come out again (remembers her battery hen days) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Have you checked the house for redmite that may deter her going in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadWelly71 Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 Heja, Sadly the torch trick didn't work but will try again tomorrow. I don't think it is mites as I rigorously clean their coop inside & out every month + spray; maybe this is still an odd habit she picked up from the battery as she has been like this since day one; both Lizzy & Rita are fine and love nothing more than cozying up in their nestboxes. Well, what can I say, Mae West is clearly one determined stubborn little lady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
