Chickens only come out at dusk

[3KillerBs]

My previous run before the new coop was finished:

There is no place in the run where I could see the entire thing at once. From chicken height it was dense with hiding places and vantage points.

 

[President_ChickenGirl]

So it's a bare, open rectangle without any "clutter"?

They may be afraid of the open space where they have no way to hide from danger.

"Clutter" -- things that break up the space and offer both physical and visual shelter -- is important for both flock dynamics and giving the chickens a more natural environment. They're creatures of the forest floor, not the open grasslands.

Ok! We still need to add chicks in a few weeks so that’s why it isn’t smaller. They seem to like roaming around but I could be wrong.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ok! We still need to add chicks in a few weeks so that’s why it isn’t smaller. They seem to like roaming around but I could be wrong.

I think the suggestion is not to make it smaller. It is to add things they can hide under and hop on.

All it takes to freak chickens out is a hawk (or perceived hawk) flying over just once. No place to hide except IN the coop means that's where they will go.

We had a hawk attack (it wasn't successful) many years ago and for the rest of my bantams life (which was 7 more years) she refused to go more than 4' outside the run and even then kept her forays to 10 minutes then back into the safe space.

 

[President_ChickenGirl]

I think the suggestion is not to make it smaller. It is to add things they can hide under and hop on.

All it takes to freak chickens out is a hawk (or perceived hawk) flying over just once. No place to hide except IN the coop means that's where they will go.

We had a hawk attack (it wasn't successful) many years ago and for the rest of my bantams life (which was 7 more years) she refused to go more than 4' outside the run and even then kept her forays to 10 minutes then back into the safe space.

Ok. We have roosting bars but I can definitely see why they would need a place to hide. Thanks!

 

[aart]

The coop is above where the ladder leads to.

Also, here is the inside of the coop if that will help.

It would help to see the whole thing, both inside and out.

 

[3KillerBs]

Ok! We still need to add chicks in a few weeks so that’s why it isn’t smaller. They seem to like roaming around but I could be wrong.

No! You definitely don't want it to be smaller!

I'm suggesting that the problem may be that it's barren -- a wide-open space is an unnatural environment for a chicken. If the coop is their only shelter they may be afraid to come out.

Here's one of the definitive explanations of the clutter concept: https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/21588571

It will be essential when you integrate the chicks you mentioned.

BTW, here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

 

[Ridgerunner]

My Seramas only come out of their coop at dusk and just sit in their coop door the rest of the day. Why is this?

I don't know. How long have they been in the coop and how long have they had access to the run? When I first open the pop door to the run after housing them in the coop for a while mine might be all in the run within 15 minutes or it might take three days before the first is brave enough to go outside. Each group is different. My broods are typically around 20 chicks, looks like you only have two. So how long has this behavior been going on, you may not have very brave chicks. I don't

They may have been scared by a predator. It may be something totally different. Personally I don't see the problem. They are not being injured. They are eating and drinking. They have the choice to do what they want so they are not suffering. They look like they are still pretty young. I let mine manage this type of thing on their own at their pace. They will do what makes them happy.