2 RIRs hate their coop in suburbia, NJ: Please help

[Untilwehaveland]

Facts: 2 RIR hens, Tebow and Ina
Born late March and mid-march 2012 respectively (separate farms, moms, separate story)
Family: 2 dogs, one cat-they all hang out together outside- no issues
Activity: Free range our suburban backyard- houses on either side, yard maybe 50x75
Coop- 6 ft long x 3 ft deep x 4 ft high modeled on the one below-built by me so not as fancy
Location of coop- north side of house in a corner of fence and carport (sided wall)
Built with the assistance of a carpenter, so roof is pitched, space between walls and roof for ventilation, insulated floor and walls for the egg area.
Egg-laying area is about 2 ft off ground and takes up the whole enclosed side of the coop
Did have mites early in spring (I attribute to wet weather) got some seven dust to sprinkle on the ground, covered in straw, and have since stopped using it and no signs of mites.
I put the chicks in there when they were ready and closed them in for maybe a week and subsidized for the last cool nights of early spring with a heat lamp. Everything went fine and they liked it. Shortly after, they started getting noisy and obnoxious so we fenced in a run 16 ft long, 7 ft wide between our deck and a solid white fence and allowed them to go graze around. Sure enough, it was a matter of time when they started getting out and exploring the whole yard. We now just let them free range hoping they would help with bugs/ticks as we have a veg garden, dogs, and want yummy eggs! We spend LOTS of time on our deck in the summer and they come to the deck every evening at the same time and sit on the railing to go to bed. As I learned, I got rid of the "catwalk" in their coop (as they NEVER went into the enclosed egg box area) and they simply perched on a 6 in thick log I put across (2 ft off the ground). Soon enough, they started waking up way TOO early and making that horrific crowing/nails on chalkboard sound and pecking at the door to get out. To avoid this we just let them roost on the deck railing all night. And since doing this they don't seem to miss their coop/ run area one bit : (

My questions:

Why do they not "go home to roost" even though we started them correctly? Will these 2 divas be more keen on the coop as it gets cooler? Are we doing something wrong that they seem to loathe their coop? Is it just that it is too low? I am thinking I will raise it up on blocks as it is a cheap solution and can't hurt. Are they just social and want to be BY us as we practically live on the deck ourselves? Is this normal behavior that they go crazy in the morning to be let out? Is it bad to let them stay out all night now? Should we stand strong and let them screech it out in their coop? Will they even want to lay eggs in the coop or was it a total waste? Should we just let them truly free-range and have to hunt for eggs? Will putting treats IN the coop allow them to associate the coop with good things?

Sorry if this post was long and I know I have a lot of questions, but I am really dedicated to doing this and want to do it right and many times the devil is in the details! Glad to hear any insight, ideas, other similar issues. THANKS in advance!

 

[RonC]

If your weather is as hot as mine here in Texas I wouldn't blame them for sleeping outside. Colder weather they might decide to start sleeping in the coop again. Do they have a roost inside the coop for them to sleep on? If not that may help along with raising the coop up. They like to sleep somewhat off the ground. I would say to post a pic but I think you have to have a number of posts before you are allowed to. Might try putting them in after dark for a few nights and leave the door open since they are sleeping outside anyways. You could secure the run with a roof and make sure they are in their secure area at dark with the coop door open. They would be safer there even if they do sleep outside.

 

[JodiLynn]

I have a "wild chicken" that has been around for awhile and she sleeps in a pine tree in front of our barn. She was the first of chickens and the reest came as friends for her (now we fully have the chicken fever). All of my other chickens put themselves in their coop around 8 p.m.. The wild chicken does sleep in the barn (whereever she pleases) when the weather gets cold. My coop has high roosting perches for all the chickens and this made a huge difference, before we built the roosts they were all trying to sleep in the tree!

 

[Untilwehaveland]

Thanks RonC and JodiLynn!

I appreciate the free feedback. I will let you know I did indeed raise the coop which stood 4 ft high at the roof line meaning their perch was about 2 ft off the ground. Now the perch stands a little over 4 ft off the ground and I can let you know for the 1st time in my life I am getting eggs from the backyard!!! Both ladies are laying everyday in the coop- They do not sleep in it overnight, but they do spend more time in there and they regularly make their way back to lay their eggs every morning. I think the raising did the trick- about 2 days after is when they started hanging out in there more and hopping/flying/flailing up on the newly raised perch. I am thinking that it was simply too low and "dog-house like" and as they are birds they wanted more of a bird's eye view. I assume they will enjoy the indoor coop area as it gets colder at night.

I am not sure if other people have success with the "boutique" chicken coops that are sold online that are low to the ground. Mine was modeled after one style of those and it just didnt't work out. If I could redo it (given my space limitations, etc.) I would build a structure as simple as a rabbit hutch and simply put it on stilts.

Thanks again to those who gave me some insight and best of luck to you if you read this for insight. Oh, and backyard egg omelett= YUM!