Changed behavior at dusk

[Le galline della Nonna]

Hello friends!

I have 4 hens now 5-1/2 months old . They have been together since 3 days old. Since being introduced to the coop this summer, they have always returned to the coop at dusk with no issues . Since daylight savings time , it gets dark at 4:00 pm , only one hen returns to the coop. The other 3 roost in the outdoor run part of the coop structure itself . The entire coop and small attached run sit within a larger , predator proofed area. I am bringing the others inside the coop and placing on the roosts. Temps are swinging from 78-22 degrees ( Chicago lol) and this week will see temps in the teens for a string of days. I’m worried more about the risk to them staying on the outdoor roost, and not being together inside the coop itself where there aren’t drafts etc. I cannot figure out why the behavior changed. There are no rodents/mites or bullying going on that I observe . Please help !

 

[azygous]

Chickens are sometimes like humans. They do what the dominant one in the group does, and no one knows why, least of all those involved.

If you've ruled out rodents and coop mites (check the roosts after dark by wiping a damp paper towel over them) and no bullying is taking place, put them all inside the coop each night and close the coop door so they'll stay there. Do it each night until they are going in on their own.

 

[3KillerBs]

Are they laying yet?

I have noticed that my POL pullets are the wild and crazy ones who start doing inexplicable things -- sort of like human adolescents.

They tend to settle and get more predictable after they start laying.

 

[centrarchid]

Make certain coop roosting area is not getting dark to fast relative to outside. Many of my birds are reluctant to enter dark locations even at roosting time. I correct by creating a light permeable opening on west side of structure or us of something silly like a night light. My night light has been red LED strips so as not to mess with photoperiod.

 

[Le galline della Nonna]

Chickens are sometimes like humans. They do what the dominant one in the group does, and no one knows why, least of all those involved.

If you've ruled out rodents and coop mites (check the roosts after dark by wiping a damp paper towel over them) and no bullying is taking place, put them all inside the coop each night and close the coop door so they'll stay there. Do it each night until they are going in on their own.

Thank you!

Make certain coop roosting area is not getting dark to fast relative to outside. Many of my birds are reluctant to enter dark locations even at roosting time. I correct by creating a light permeable opening on west side of structure or us of something silly like a night light. My night light has been red LED strips so as not to mess with photoperiod.

good idea !

 

[Le galline della Nonna]

Are they laying yet?

I have noticed that my POL pullets are the wild and crazy ones who start doing inexplicable things -- sort of like human adolescents.

They tend to settle and get more predictable after they start laying.

They are laying , yes

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not sure of the number of birds or the size of your coop, but very often what was more than enough room for chicks and younger birds becomes not enough room for full size birds. Space might be the problem. Being raised together has almost no influence on adult behavior.

 

[Le galline della Nonna]

There are only 4 . 3 are outside of the enclosed coop and only one goes inside . There are 2 roosts - 3 can fit comfortably on 1 , so normally they’ve been 2+2 or 3 & 1 on the second roost . There is one outdoor roost that 3 keep going to and the other hen still goes inside.