Chickens refuse to go into coop after predator got inside. Can't find eggs!

[azygous]

Like children, chickens always have room for desert and treats.

Beware of the container the treats were held in. Chickens can associate that with treats as well as the audible cue. Once inside the coop, leave the container inside when you leave or the chickens will try to follow you out thinking there are more treats in the empty container.

 

[LaFleche]

The first thing I would do is make sure the way the (o)possums got into the coop is secured, so no other predator will be able to enter.
Only after thoroughly securing the coop would I pick the chickens from their outdoor roosting space and set them up in their coop again and maybe keep them locked up for two days.

 

[cmom]

Unfortunately, you've waited way too long to try to remedy this situation and your chickens are now sporting a brand new habit. It's going to take at least this much time to undo the harm.

First, you need to teach them to come to you. It won't take nearly as long to do this as to undo the trauma caused by the possums. You can accomplish this in three steps in just one day. Start this early in the day as it will take a number of hours.

Gather their favorite treat, perhaps BOSS or scratch or meal worms. Trot out to where the chickens are busy poking around. Right now you just want to teach them a signal to get them to come eventually, but not right at this time.

I use a clicker I bought at PetSmart for a buck. As I toss a few meal worms or a bit of scratch, I click the clicker. You can use a word or a phrase or even rattle the jar with scratch. It has to be an audio cue so the sound carries quite far. Keep tossing the treats and making the audible cue. It needs to be the same cue every time.

Step two. An hour later, stand near the coop and make the noise again. Be ready to back it up with a few treats so the chickens know there's a dividend in running to you when they hear this noise.

Step three. An hour later, you're ready to get them into the coop. You need to stand inside and make the audible cue. If the chickens are too far away, begin this step close enough to them to hear, then back up into the coop. Be ready to slam the door shut when you get them all in. It might help to have someone on the outside ready to shut the door so you don't need to risk having the chickens follow you back out.

Getting them into the coop should be undertaken several hours before dark so the chickens have time to inspect the coop for possums and find there aren't any. Then they will calm down and get reacquainted with their home. You can help by sitting in there and reassuring them calmly.

You will have food and water in the coop and will keep them confined for three days minimum. You will observe them to see if they've become accepting of the coop and have relaxed. Calm them down if any seem upset. Three days may seem long, but they need the time to establish the new habit.

You may need to use your audible cue to get them into the coop at night for a few nights until that habit is reestablished.

Just want to add one thing to the above excellent clicker training instructions. When u get them into the coup by using the clicker, be sure to give them their treat INside the coop too. In fact, u can "jackpot" their decision to enter the coop, by giving them even more treats inside their coop than you did outside. The "clicker" sound is not the reward, but the cue that they are going to get a reward. A jackpot reward will also be helpful if u dont have anyone to close the door behind them. If they are occupied finding the scratch, mealworms, or whatever special treat u gave them, they wont be immediately trying to follow u back out.

Like children, chickens always have room for desert and treats.

Beware of the container the treats were held in. Chickens can associate that with treats as well as the audible cue. Once inside the coop, leave the container inside when you leave or the chickens will try to follow you out thinking there are more treats in the empty container.

All of these methods have worked for me. I actually have a special treat bucket and when the birds see the bucket they come running for treats. I don't have a clicker but call out "Chickies", that means treats.

 

[cmom]

Years ago when I had some birds that didn't want to go into a coop, I started putting evening treats in the coops and they caught on and would go in for their nightly treats. Originally I shut the pop door. I don't shut it anymore but I have some safeguards and so far haven't had any issues. I don't free range any more because of losses from predators in the past but the birds have nice large secure pens. Even the younger birds go into their coops in the evenings. Have you changed the nest box materials since the possums were in them?