I keep reading about chickens coming the coop at dark. My girls found a tree limb they really like and roost on it every night. They won't come in. It doesn't do any good to have an automatic door if it closes them all out because they like a tree branch better. I have to go out and pick up each one off the limb and put them in the coop at night. There is no chasing or 'back talk' from them. They just like staying outside.
Thoughts?
I'm told some breeds of chickens really like to roost in trees. The breeds I have are very domesticated and have always hopped back into the coop and worked out roosting arrangements amongst themselves come sunset. I just walk out to close the door at about 8:30. They're just over 2 months old. Now, when I first finished the coop, I left them in there for a couple days at a time. I think they really got it into their heads that that's home. Also they really like their roosts. They're 2x4s, wide-ways, 2 ft off the bottom of the roost, which is 4 ft off the ground. I would figure out what it is they like about the tree branch, maybe cut a branch off, and mount that inside your coop. And make them get used to it. Lots of threads on here about roosts and returning the coop at night.