Chickens refuse to go into their coop. HELP!

[stacllen]

My chickens are young and have been outside for about 3 months. They used to go into the coop every night not problem. Then one starting flying up into a tree and every night I had to shoo her out of the tree and physically put her in the coop. Before I knew it, all the chickens now fly high into the trees to sleep. Every night I am outside ripping them out of the trees and shooing them into the coop.

My coop is big, very clean, has everything they need. Any ideas???? Thanks in advance!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How's the ventilation?
They love an airy place to sleep.

 

[aart]

Ditto the ventilation Q
.
Where is your climate? Putting your location in your profile can help folks find solutions.

Maybe keep them confined to coop and run for a few days?
Any predator events in the coop...possibly pests in there?

 

[stacllen]

Ditto the ventilation Q
.
Where is your climate? Putting your location in your profile can help folks find solutions.

Maybe keep them confined to coop and run for a few days?
Any predator events in the coop...possibly pests in there?

 

[stacllen]

I'm in Massachusetts and it has been pretty hot here. No predator events (that I know of). Thank you for your help!

 

[stacllen]

They HATE being confined. They squak and complain every morning until we let them out (they are "out" but still in a fenced in back yard).

 

[Jamie 76]

I'm curious about this also, I've been having problems with 4 of my 6 LIR- there was an attack so I'm wondering if they don't want to go back in. I have to also get a ladder and rip them out of trees- I tried keeping in coop for a couple days, still not working. Pretty soon I might give up and leave them! I'd be thinking about them all night!

 

[Clucked Up]

OK. Here's the deal...once you get them ALL in the coop ( hopefully you have a run of some sort) ...KEEP THEM THERE FOR A WEEK! Sounds rough I know, just do it! They need to know that that is where they live, where they are safe, where they can lay eggs, and where YOU put their food. I free range my 7 and they're pre-roosing on their own an hour before sunset, and in the coop before the it's dark. I know it;\'s hard to visualize another keeper's operation, so feel free to ask. I'd be honored to assist!
If you have children, you will understand the need for boundaries.
Our chickens L-O-V-E us, not in spite of, but because of these secure boundaries. You are the boss, so behave like one.

 

[aart]

OK. Here's the deal...once you get them ALL in the coop ( hopefully you have a run of some sort) ...KEEP THEM THERE FOR A WEEK! Sounds rough I know, just do it! They need to know that that is where they live, where they are safe, where they can lay eggs, and where YOU put their food. I free range my 7 and they're pre-roosing on their own an hour before sunset, and in the coop before the it's dark. I know it;\'s hard to visualize another keeper's operation, so feel free to ask. I'd be honored to assist!
If you have children, you will understand the need for boundaries.
Our chickens L-O-V-E us, not in spite of, but because of these secure boundaries. You are the boss, so behave like one.

nods head