Birds did not come to Roost

[jtbuck]

I have /had 11 hens roosting in one Coop; an older group of 4 in another coop and Guineas roosting in tree above older group.
Went to close the 11 up for the night and they were all trying to follow the Guineas up in the tree((after10 months in this coop).
I managed to catch 9 and put in their coop lost 2 to darkness.
Anu ideas as what would cause this?
Should I keep locked up now?
I'm at a loss....

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I don't have any experience with this, sorry. Is it possible something scared them and they are seeking the higher roosts to feel safer? Maybe an animal wandered into or too near their coop? Just a thought, I may be way off base.

 

[jtbuck]

I don't have any experience with this, sorry. Is it possible something scared them and they are seeking the higher roosts to feel safer? Maybe an animal wandered into or too near their coop? Just a thought, I may be way off base.

No didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

No didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

Hopefully someone with experience can jump in soon.

 

[Mrs. K]

Can you post pictures of the set up? Chickens can really be notional, but also, it can be caused by not enough room. What was enough room, becomes not enough room when they are full size, sometimes.

If you are confident in your space, what I have found, is to make where they want to roost inaccessible, and then they come back to the second best (in their opinion) your coop.

Not sure what the set up is, so post some pictures.

MRs K

 

[MROO]

Add another roost to your setup, just in case space is the issue. Extra roosts are rarely wasted, even if there wasn't a space issue!
Some chickens don't like total darkness. Putting a "night-light" just inside or near the coop door may help. I hung a little dollar-tree solar lantern from the eaves of my coop. It gives enough light that my birds can see to settle, but not so much that The Boys get triggered. Bonus: I can see the door and window from the house, which helps my worry about predators.