Birds suddenly aren’t going into coop at night anymore

[Ltvo]

I have an auto door also. I have it set to close on time at about 45 minutes after dark because I want to give them all a chance to get inside. At first I had problems with several being still in the run after the door closed. I would reprogram the door so it would open and put each one back inside. I would have to chase a few. So, after a few nights of doing this I decided to let whoever got caught outside in the run to spend the night there. I did this for 3 nights and then they got the message. It rarely ever happens anymore, but every now and then 1 or 2 will get caught outside (never the same ones) but when I open the door for them now I do not have to chase them. They are ready and go right on in on their own. Maybe sometimes 1 or 2 are really into doing some chicken thing and just cannot turn it loose at the time. lol who knows.
I am sort of having the opposite going with mine the last few days. Where they normally want to be out in the run during the day they have gotten to where they spend nearly all their time in the coop. No evidence of predators or anything. It is winter, but I am in LA (lower Alabama) so not too awfully cold. Plus, there has been colder days earlier in the season when they wanted to be out in the run every chance they got. Which, none of that has nothing to do with your thread, and I am not trying to hijack it.
Anyway, I do not think it would be the noise of the door unless it is really loud. Mine is not, but yours may be. I think they get used to things like that,
Maybe try going for closing on time instead of dusk and set it 45 minutes or even an hour after dark and see if that helps.
I also have a light that comes on in the run at dusk and I wondered if that confused them some, so until I got them trained when to get in I disabled it. Now, I have gone back to letting it auto on at dusk.
Also, if your coop is dark It may cause them to not want to go in for whatever reason. Afraid of the boggie chicken?? I had to have a light on inside the coop or they were reluctant to go in (actually would not go in) and especially when the light would be on out in the run but not in the coop..
Just some thoughts.

Yes, I would normally let those that want to sleep in the run (it has a smaller cool that the newest chicks came with) do so but it is winter in Pa and freezing temps so need to get them in the insulted coop for now. That is my only concern in ensuring they are warm. In the summer many sleep in the very predator protected run and I will keep the door open all the time as before I got the auto door

 

[Ltvo]

I have an auto door also. I have it set to close on time at about 45 minutes after dark because I want to give them all a chance to get inside. At first I had problems with several being still in the run after the door closed. I would reprogram the door so it would open and put each one back inside. I would have to chase a few. So, after a few nights of doing this I decided to let whoever got caught outside in the run to spend the night there. I did this for 3 nights and then they got the message. It rarely ever happens anymore, but every now and then 1 or 2 will get caught outside (never the same ones) but when I open the door for them now I do not have to chase them. They are ready and go right on in on their own. Maybe sometimes 1 or 2 are really into doing some chicken thing and just cannot turn it loose at the time. lol who knows.
I am sort of having the opposite going with mine the last few days. Where they normally want to be out in the run during the day they have gotten to where they spend nearly all their time in the coop. No evidence of predators or anything. It is winter, but I am in LA (lower Alabama) so not too awfully cold. Plus, there has been colder days earlier in the season when they wanted to be out in the run every chance they got. Which, none of that has nothing to do with your thread, and I am not trying to hijack it.
Anyway, I do not think it would be the noise of the door unless it is really loud. Mine is not, but yours may be. I think they get used to things like that,
Maybe try going for closing on time instead of dusk and set it 45 minutes or even an hour after dark and see if that helps.
I also have a light that comes on in the run at dusk and I wondered if that confused them some, so until I got them trained when to get in I disabled it. Now, I have gone back to letting it auto on at dusk.
Also, if your coop is dark It may cause them to not want to go in for whatever reason. Afraid of the boggie chicken?? I had to have a light on inside the coop or they were reluctant to go in (actually would not go in) and especially when the light would be on out in the run but not in the coop..
Just some thoughts.

Meant to also add I do have a sensor light that hits the run and MAY also be an issue and confusing them like you mentioned!! I will turn that off for now and see if that works. That is a great idea to try

and the door sensor is movement not light activated. I bought it for that purpose so I can set the times

 

[Ltvo]

Need some solutions from the chicken experts out there... I have eight hens but two flocks. Four were hatched March 2019 and four were hatched this past March and although they mingle out of necessity they also stick within their own flock especially when sleeping. The newer flock originally slept in the chicken run on the roof of a TSC chicken coop that was was given to me with the girls at 4 months old (they were re-homed with me). I easily taught them how to roost in the 10x8 coop with the older hens once the weather got colder in Oct

We just added an automatic coop door 2 weeks ago and all was super!! Then suddenly, 2-4 birds aren’t going in at dusk (but go in/out easily all day long) and are getting closed out of the coop so I then have had to chase them through a 3’ high 12’ long chute from the run into the coop...groan and I must look ridiculous trying to do it. It’s not always the same birds either

This is happening every night now. The birds are settling back on the TSC roof if they are the newer flock or on that coop door if the older flock. I’m wondering if they got spooked by the auto door coming down and not getting in so as it gets dusk now just not even trying? It has a sensor and reverses if a chick is entering as the door is closing. It is also a very slow speed of opening and closing that if a bird is ever caught dead under the door, the bird was already dead before the door touched her!

I’ve already set the timer a lot later to give them more time to get in but once they settle in the run it won’t matter what time the door timer is set, I’m thinking. It’s not bullying because it’s not always the same birds, not predators, or bugs...I’m out of ideas so am hoping you all have some other ideas as to the “why” and how do I get them all in again? It’s winter here so I need them in the coop now at night.

I could keep them in the coop a few days to “re-teach” sense of home but I do have two bitches that do pick on my silkie to the point of drawing blood and she’s all white! So would prefer not having to do that if possible. Much thanks for your expertise on this

UPDATE: thank you all for your thoughts on this...I think the mystery has been solved and thanks to the chicken keeper who mentioned their motion light in the run. The night I turned mine off the girls made it in the coop without a hitch!! Fingers crossed it continues because I really LOVE my auto coop door!

 

[bill3607]

UPDATE: thank you all for your thoughts on this...I think the mystery has been solved and thanks to the chicken keeper who mentioned their motion light in the run. The night I turned mine off the girls made it in the coop without a hitch!! Fingers crossed it continues because I really LOVE my auto coop door!

That is really great to hear that you got your problem solved! I know what you mean about the auto door, I love mine, also. You know you could have a set back from time to time with it. I think I posted earlier that every now and then a couple or so may get caught up in something they are doing and run late and get caught outside, but for the most part they seem to get it. I think I told you if I do not leave a light on inside the coop then some, and sometimes all, of mine will not go into the coop with it being dark in there. Well, I have been meaning to get a timer for my coop light but have not yet. So, I have just been going in there around 8:00 or 9:00 P.M. and cutting it off. Then, I would turn it on in the morning before going to work. Well, I had forgot to turn in on yesterday morning and sure enough about a half dozen were still out in the run with it cold and raining. They had rather stay out in the run in the wet and cold then to go inside the dark coop. I went and turned the coop light on, then opened the auto door and they went straight in. Once they are in you can cut the light out and they get up on the roost. Chickens it seems are scared of the dark. Which, I am sure is instinct to keep them from danger. Which, in turn is also one of the reasons why they roost up high. So, really it makes sense that they really do not like to go into dark places. Not too mention they do not see well in the dark. Or, at least that is what I have read. Plus, watching mine in the dark if they try to move around seems to be true.

 

[Ascholten]

Sometimes they can get spooked by stuff. Did you put something new in there that spooked them?
Is there a predator in there, did a rat / snake etc get in that got them scared now? Being outside is not really the best place for them.

As said by others, locking them in for a day or three is sometimes the only way to break them of that habit. I put a fan near my coop in the summer and the way they acted, you'd have through I put a fire breathing dragon at the door. Lock them in was the only answer to get them back in the coop. If it's a new item, they'll get used to it, if it's a predator, youll need to remove it, then make them see that it's a safe place to be again.

good luck
Aaron