Chickens refusing to go into coop??

[rufus]

There is something wrong if they don't want to go into the coop. Probably a snake. Spray a CO2 fire extinguesher under the coop to drive out snakes. Be ready, they will not be happy when they come out, so have a hoe or shovel handy.

We had a problem with the hens not wanting to go into the coop at night. We had put a bottle fly trap on the top of the coop, and it stank to high heaven after a day or two. When we removed the fly trap, they accepted the coop.

Rufus

 

[chickenmeadow]

susancoyotesfan, I was wondering if your chicken coop with the hardwire floor & plywood can be disturbed outside/underneath by animals & may have spooked the chickens inside sleeping one night? You must have fully inspected inside for snakes or the like by now. Hope they are all ok by now with the coop.

 

[susancoyotesfan]

Thanks for all the replies!

I went looking for a light to put on a timer but didn't find one yet; I got frustrated yesterday and picked up three of the four, one at a time, and carried them into it with me. I peeped at them like they do to each other when everything's ok (and how I used to peep at them when they were little and afraid) and after that, three of them laid an egg in the nest box like normal. The one I couldn't catch to put in there (way spooked by watching her sisters disappear briefly) made a nest of wood shavings in the middle of the yard and laid there. I did still have to go out last night with DH to pick them up and play chicken toss to get them into the caged in area that attaches to the coop.

DH says two of them went in by themselves this evening and the other two were easily shooed in especially when they heard their sisters clucking at them.

I like the fire extinguisher idea; if it's a mouse nest or a snake that will definitely work. DH thinks it may have been a dog trying to knock the coop over to get to them; I do know cats and skunks have tried in the past (it's hardware cloth on all four sides as well, with rocks along all fence lines that are large and heavy so they just sink into any holes that get dug)

Hopefully this is the end of a weird experience for them (and us)!

 

[Big C]

Some predator spooked them inside the coop.
Near death experience... They don't feel safe there.
Possibly a snake moved in for the warmth associated. You would need to find the predator and dispose of before you add more warmth by using artificial light.

 

[chickenmeadow]

susancoyotesfan, happy to hear that all seems well now with you chickens going into the coop. I found out why mine had a problem the other night. It was because an xtra new roost was put into the coop, had fallen down, & I just noticed it yesterday; I have a "double decker" coop & hadn't looked inside in that direction till yesterday. Just a roost, maybe it fell with them on it; they are all so sensitive to changes & bumps in the night; understandably. I use the 14 hr. lighting (6am-8pm, from Sept-April) in the coop for a few reasons: winter egg production (as that coop is just coming of age to lay), for my convenience when locking them in for the night in the dark, & for their general ease for coming in the coop at night (it's been dark around 5:30 here lately & they like to go in around 7 or 7:30 & then wander around inside eating & drinking, getting settled into their favorite spot, etc.) as the top level coop has dim light & the bottom level feed area (which is locked at night also against forest rodent types) is lit with a Reveal 100 watt broad spectrum light bulb (that's where they spend most of the day exposed to the outside). Each light fixture is one of those hanging utility type lights with a hook on the top, a cage around the bulb & a long 15 ft cord (simple to install-just hang by hook & secure the cord along the wall); hope you find a light fixture that works well for you. I found the fixtures in the hardward department near the extension cord area. Sounds like your rock idea is a good one.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Agreed!