Chicken constantly in & out of coop in daytime...Why??

[Dot Mayo]

One of my girls (approx 18 months / 2 years old) has been behaving strangely for about 3 weeks.
All, every day she keeps going in and out of the coop. She only spends 5-10 seconds in there each time and does not settle in the nesting boxes (even if there are eggs in there). I am not sure if she is laying at the moment.
She is eating well and is otherwise happy. She show no signs of being egg bound or broody - She just looks confused.... (like she is looking for her car keys!)
She is in and out of that coop literally ALL DAY - Dozens and dozens of times. She does not stray too far from the coop dispite having quite a large run.
Any ideas what is causing this behaviour? I've searched the internet and can't find anything.
Thank you.

 

[Henry&Friends]

Just making sure she doesn’t leave the oven on, lol.

 

[ValerieJ]

I had a hen do that for a while. She didn't want anyone to change anything in there. When I cleaned it, she was there complaining. When I collected eggs she would charge in there and then be all upset I took the eggs. Eventually she stopped popping in and out all the time, but still goes in to rearrange everything whenever I clean the coop. Chickens...

 

[chrissynemetz]

I have a couple of girls who hang out in and around the coop if they're trying to decide whether they want to lay an egg or not... and I have a cockerel who never strays too far from the coop at all. Idk, chickens can be so weird

 

[so lucky]

My chickens never went into the coop in the daytime until they started laying. Now it's like Grand Central Station.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is she being bullied at all? I have one older hen that's started spending a little more time inside since she dropped in ranking to a younger hen.

 

[aart]

- She just looks confused.... (like she is looking for her car keys!)

This cracked me up!

She may be going neurotic, had a hen do that once.
I'd check her over real good....and the coop, might there be a pest or predator in there...insects, rodents, or snake?

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @Dot Mayo
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[Dot Mayo]

Is she being bullied at all? I have one older hen that's started spending a little more time inside since she dropped in ranking to a younger hen.

Nope, she's not bullied. And she doesn't ever spend more than a few seconds inside the coop - She's just contantly visiting it!

 

[Dot Mayo]

This cracked me up!

She may be going neurotic, had a hen do that once.
I'd check her over real good....and the coop, might there be a pest or predator in there...insects, rodents, or snake?

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @Dot Mayo
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1907629

She is one of just 4 hens, the coop is bug free, pest free, rodent free and snake free - It's just seldom chicken free with madam in and out like a fiddlers elbow!
Weather here in the UK is nothing unusual - Usual British nonsense.
I think she has simply lost the plot but since she is happily senile I will fret no more.

 

[Dot Mayo]

I had a hen do that for a while. She didn't want anyone to change anything in there. When I cleaned it, she was there complaining. When I collected eggs she would charge in there and then be all upset I took the eggs. Eventually she stopped popping in and out all the time, but still goes in to rearrange everything whenever I clean the coop. Chickens...

Hmmm, similar behaviour. This chicken has always insisted on being in the coop whenever I clean it - And gets quite vocal - Like she doesn't like me interfering with her space. Evidently just a crazy chicken thing.....