Chickens won't come into the coop on their own

| First time chicken owner here! My neighbor was wanting to get rid of of his 2 chickens from last years 4-H fair so I offered to take them as I've always wanted to have a handful of layers. They are semi-tame, and my neighbor said they would put themselves up in the coop every night, but since they've been moved to our house they refuse to use the coop for laying or roosting at night. I keep having to search for them outside in the bushes around the overgrown woods surrounding our house and carry them in. Sometimes the lavender orpington avoids me and it becomes a bit of a chase through the thicket... I've tried to make this old shed outback as cozy as I can for them to be a coop as pictured, but they still won't put themselves up at night. I also have to keep them shut in the coop until after lunchtime otherwise they won't come back inside to lay in the nesting boxes. They'll just lay their eggs outside though I have no idea where as I've been unable to find them. If I keep them shut in the shed I can usually find one egg at lunch, though I feel I should be finding 2 but I don't want to shut them up all day, so I think one is still trying to lay outside. I've placed fake eggs in the nesting boxes, and they'll use the boxes when shut in the coop. I've also tried keeping a light on in the coop before dusk, but they prefer to roost up in the bushes still. Any ideas on how to get them settled and used to the coop so they'll put themselves up at night? [link] [comments] |
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