Chickens are roosting weird since summer hit

[Jgrice]

I live in Texas where it gets upwards of 100° every day and in the mid to upper 80s at night. I have six birds, all of them have been roosting in the same well ventilated coop for the last several months I made for them until about a month ago. For some reason now, they all try to get on top of the coop and sleep right underneath the chicken wire roof I created around the run. I’m guessing it’s just because they get more airflow up there? Is this normal or should I try and train them to go back in the coop every night? I tried to do it for about a week and they consistently go on top of the coop.

It doesn’t really pose any threat for them because the chicken wire fencing is pretty tight and none of the predators we have in the city could get to them, but it just seems strange. I would love anyone’s thoughts.

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

That's exactly where mine sleep. I'm in Georgia and have an open coop made from pallets so very well ventilated. They will go in there during the day or when it rains but at night they go up to the roof. I do worry that something can reach through the chicken wire and try to pull them through but nothing has so far. (Knock on wood)
Unfortunately, I just opened the crate with the new littles (8 weeks old)and the first night I found them all on top of their crate. Learning bad habits.

 

[aart]

I’m guessing it’s just because they get more airflow up there?

Probably....or there is a crowding or pest issue inside the coop

Chicken wire?
How close are birds to this wire?
Pics would help here.
Most cities are rife with raccoons, which can chew thru typical chicken wire if not just reach thru and grab birds.
You'd need to block access to roof to change this habit.
Might be good to increase ventilation on coop too.

 

[drinkoj]

Going to ask in this thread.

Our 2 ISO Browns (8 weeks old) won't come in from the run to the to the coop and we have to "help them in" at night (run as been open 1.5 weeks). Now the 5 leghorns (8 and 9 weeks old) go inside all by themselves at night to roost.

They all lived in the coop for 2 weeks before the run was open and were raised as chicks together. These two browns want to sleep on top of the box that transitions between the coop and run, maybe 2.5 feet off the ground together.

We haven't seen any bullying and we know that one of the browns is the lowest on the pecking order but the other one is in the middle. So what gives? And how to do we "teach" them to go inside?