Advice please!

[JennyDr]

I’m new to chickens and live in city limits so I have limited space. My hens usually free range in the back yard during the day… which is not what I wanted originally. They want to roost on top of their (small) coop at night rather than in it. They squack pretty loud when I make them go in. I don’t want to upset neighbors… any advice?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

Were they going in this coop before just fine and this is a sudden change in their behavior? If so, maybe it's too hot in there or something's not right for them, such as could they be overcrowded?

When trying to acclimate chicks to a new coop, some will lock them in for a few days. I couldn't do that as there are adults in there that have to come and go. We put a rechargeable lantern in the chicken door and herd them in each night, then shut the door behind them. In four to five days, they go in by themselves.

Consider putting something atop your coop to keep them from perching on it for a while too or fence it off.

 

[azurbanclucker]

I’m new to chickens and live in city limits so I have limited space. My hens usually free range in the back yard during the day… which is not what I wanted originally. They want to roost on top of their (small) coop at night rather than in it. They squack pretty loud when I make them go in. I don’t want to upset neighbors… any advice?

Keep sticking them in at night, and let them complain. They will settle down in a week or 2 and get into a routine. Bribe your neighbors with eggs and they will not say a word.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of your set up? How many birds and how big is the coop? Are you trying to put them in early instead of waiting until dusk when they're inclined to "coop up"?