Chickens guarding coop

Date sort Score sort
chickenrescuer

chickenrescuer

In the Brooder
5 Years
Aug 23, 2014
21
0
22
Lately, my new chickens have been guarding the coop. They aren't broody it just seems like the older flock won't go into the coop anymore. Their egg laying has decreased because of this. Any suggestions?
 
chickenrescuer said:
Lately, my new chickens have been guarding the coop. They aren't broody it just seems like the older flock won't go into the coop anymore. Their egg laying has decreased because of this. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

I sometimes have the same problem, only it's my older girls laying right in the doorway to stop the younger girls from going in. I notice an increase in this behavior when they haven't been out to peck around the yard for a day or two but letting them out of the run for a bit is kind of like hitting the reset button. There are times when I'm not able to let them out though, in which case I remove whichever hen is blocking the doorway and if she tries to settle back in there then I'll put her in time out (a smaller run) for a little while.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I also have hens who block the doorways. There is nothing really you can do to prevent this other than adding other doors or making the door bigger.

Good luck!
 
welcome-byc.gif
Glad you joined us!
smile.png


Good luck with your chicken-guarding problems!
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
frow.gif


You need to go out at dark and get them all in. Sometimes you will have older hens that guard the doorways. But it is up to you to make sure everybody gets into the coop at roosting time. Do a head count to make sure they are all inside. Any bird sleeping outside is subject to predator attack and will draw these predators back each night looking for more food. So get them all in yourself.

Good luck and welcome to our flock!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! X3, more doors help, also if they are sitting on the ramp or the entrance they sometimes seem to do that because it is a comfortable place to be and look around from, you might try putting other things in the run for them to perch/rest on.
 
Have the older birds been bothering the younger ones, pecking or bullying them? If so that may be why the young ones stay inside the coop. They are afraid of the oldies. Try to shoo the new ones out of the coop and barricade the door so they can't get back inside.

Then lurk somewhere out of their sight and observe what goes on. If one or more older hens is bothering them - put them in a crate for a couple of days and see if things straighten out. You may need to put out more feed and water bowls so the new ones aren't kept away from them.

If all goes well maybe you just need to put the young ones out till they get comfortable with doing it on their own. How young are he new birds? Are they afraid to use a ramp(if needed) to get into the coop?
 

Similar threads

D
Goose to guard the golden eggs.
Replies
1
Views
512
Stravager
Stravager
K
New chicks in coop
Replies
7
Views
169
Kurtvonnecluck
K
tralfaz
    • Like
Old and cold
Replies
2
Views
622
HenriettaPizzaNolan
HenriettaPizzaNolan
C
    • Love
inheriting a flock and coop - MANY questions
2
Replies
15
Views
1K
BigBlueHen53
BigBlueHen53
PlentifulPrairie
    • Like
two roosters father and son - 9month old son is now fighting
Replies
8
Views
840
16 and me
16 and me

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom