Chickens forgot how to go to bed?

[clifwith1f]

Hi there,

I have five backyard hens who are about 3-4 mos. old. Three nights ago, I went out to close their coop door like I do every night, and I found them all sitting together on top of their coop. I was mystified at first but quickly realized that for some reason I had accidentally closed their coop door while they were roaming around the yard earlier, blocking their entrance. Luckily, they were calm as I picked each one up and placed them in the nesting box "upstairs". I kept a mental note to never close the coop during the day again and thought the issue was over.

However, the past two nights I have also gone out just after dark to find them on top of the coop even though the door is open and they could walk in if they wanted to. It's like they have forgotten how to go to bed. Each time, I carry them into the box, and all goes well, but of course as a new chicken owner, I'm worried. How do I get them to relearn walking up the ramp where they've slept for a couple months now?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice.

Clif

 

[emma p]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
You may just have to go out there at night and put them through their door up the ramp. And eventually they should start doing that again.
Good luck with your flock!