Chickens roosting in my Garage..

[Floppy Pheasant]

Classic scenario..fox got into my coop, killed 4 of my chickens...one month later,two of my flock who survived the slaughter refuse to go back in the coop (can't blame them)..they sleep in our garage on an elevated roost,these are my babies,they were obviously traumatized by the experience...I think they feel safe in my garage,so,I'm going to let them roost there every night.
If anyone says chickens don't remember traumatic experiences... they do.

 

[aart]

If your coop isn't safe then the garage may indeed be the best alternative.
But they are merely habituated to the garage now and you could get them back in the habit of roosting in the coop if you wanted to.
They'd fuss at the change of venue, because chickens don't like change, rather than because of the attack.

 

[BreanneRN]

It will be alright as long as you can get your car to roost higher than them...

 

[Floppy Pheasant]

The door on the coop apparently had blown open ,due to a bad storm,the coop itself is impenetrable, I lost 4 chickens... how can I reintroduce them to going back in the coop?? I'll be hatching Brahma's next week,hoping their size deters predators.

 

[aart]

how can I reintroduce them to going back in the coop??

Put them in there, close the door and leave them in there for a couple days to 'home' them to the coop. Or if it's too hot to leave them cooped up 24/7, take them off the garage roost after dark and put them on the roost in the coop. Leave them in there in the morning for as long as the coop temperature is 'safe'. They won't be happy being confined, just gotta let them 'get over it'.

I'm guessing that you free range?
Do you have a secure run attached to the coop?
Might be a good idea, doesn't mean you cant free range, just means you have a safer place for the to be if there's a predator event.

I'll be hatching Brahma's next week,hoping their size deters predators.

Size doesn't really matter on the roost after dark to a predator, just a bigger meal. Do you have any idea what predator got your 4 birds?

How do you plan on integrating these new chicks into the flock?
Do you have a plan for the inevitable 50% males?
I love light brahmas black and white plumage and they're usually mellow birds,
feed to egg ratio leaves much to be desired tho.