105 degrees and 8 week old chicks still prefer staying in the coop?

[Flame80]

Hello all, I am a newbie and this is my first question for the forum. My 8 week old white leghorn pullets stay in the coop MOST of the day. They run out at 7am when I open the pop door and eat for about an hour and go back inside. Right now our heat index here in east Texas is 105 degrees!! And they STILL choose to stay inside. Their water and food is outside and I even put a small fan blowing out there for them. I see them in the coop panting some or at least setting with their mouth open. They will come back out when it rains because I think the noise on the metal roof of the coop bothers them. They will come out to eat right before dark and time to shut them up for the night. I watch them closely from my porch only about 50 ft. away. I raised them from day old chicks. They have a LARGE open air run to play in but choose to hardly ever use it. What gives? Seems like they are going to give themselves heat stroke!! They eat real good when they do decide to come out. Is this Normal? Thanks

 

[dfalco]

Hello all, I am a newbie and this is my first question for the forum. My 8 week old white leghorn pullets stay in the coop MOST of the day. They run out at 7am when I open the pop door and eat for about an hour and go back inside. Right now our heat index here in east Texas is 105 degrees!! And they STILL choose to stay inside. Their water and food is outside and I even put a small fan blowing out there for them. I see them in the coop panting some or at least setting with their mouth open. They will come back out when it rains because I think the noise on the metal roof of the coop bothers them. They will come out to eat right before dark and time to shut them up for the night. I watch them closely from my porch only about 50 ft. away. I raised them from day old chicks. They have a LARGE open air run to play in but choose to hardly ever use it. What gives? Seems like they are going to give themselves heat stroke!! They eat real good when they do decide to come out. Is this Normal? Thanks

Do they have shade when out of the coop?

 

[Flame80]

Yes definently. Over half their run is covered in white metal. Their food and water is covered. The fan also blows under cover in the shade. It has me puzzled!

 

[dfalco]

I would check for anything that could be frightening or unsettling...possible predators, loud noises, etc. Absent any reason they’d want to hide, I might consider closing the coop for at least a portion of the day, forcing them to stay outside. Maybe it’s just a habit, and hasn’t occurred to them to stay outside.

 

[dfalco]

Also, do they have comfy places to perch out in their run?

 

[Flame80]

You know...the only outside roost is the "ladder" that they use to get up in and out of the coop. I'm guessing they roost on that at least some because it has poop all over it. It is completely in the shade also and is 10 inch wide and 8 foot long. At 2 pm a few minutes ago I walked in the pen and they were still in the coop. Oddly,,,I can "call" them to come outside and they will eat and drink and seem fine as long as I am in there. I did close the pop door as you suggested and we will see how they do. Maybe they think I'm their Papa who knows. They look very good and healthy. Still eating and drinking good.

 

[dfalco]

You know...the only outside roost is the "ladder" that they use to get up in and out of the coop. I'm guessing they roost on that at least some because it has poop all over it. It is completely in the shade also and is 10 inch wide and 8 foot long. At 2 pm a few minutes ago I walked in the pen and they were still in the coop. Oddly,,,I can "call" them to come outside and they will eat and drink and seem fine as long as I am in there. I did close the pop door as you suggested and we will see how they do. Maybe they think I'm their Papa who knows. They look very good and healthy. Still eating and drinking good.

Give is an update when you see how they do.

 

[Flame80]

Well, quick update. About 2pm I closed the door to the coop after I called them out. They ate and drank and scratched around all the rest of the day. Only once did I even see them laying in the cool dirt in front of the fan. At 7:30pm this evening they were still scratching around when I walked inside and opened the pop door back up. I left and came back at 8pm and they had all retreated into their roost. So I closed them up for the night. In the morning about 7am I will let them out and close the door behind them. We'll see how they do outside for a full complete day but things are looking up!! I'll report back later. Thank you for your advise!!

 

[aart]

Pics of your coop and run might help here.
Might want to 'clutter up' the run.
This is bout integration and 'bullying' but benefits all flocks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Flame80]

All my pictures are on my phone and I am having a heck of a time getting them on my computer. Used to just plug in a usb cord and they would upload but now it keeps saying they may be stored in the clouds. Ive tried everything I know and nothing works. Best thing for me is I can text pictures and MAYBE e-mail one every once in awhile!! Sorry