The chickens had been cooped up for two straight weeks. The point was that they'd get used to the coop being their nest and their roost, and whenever they want to lay eggs, or bed down for the night, they'd go back to the coop. Today was the first day I let them out of the coop since we put them in there two weeks ago. We've already had one hen go back to the coop and lay an egg. :-)

Here's a pic I snapped of them a few minutes ago (you can even see the ducks on the right side of the frame):