Chickens sleep outside

Kahoku

Chirping
Jun 28, 2019
38
98
59
Arizona City, AZ
Good morning everyone. I'm new to BYC but have enjoyed past posts and decided to join. I have a prefab coop with attached yard. The yard has a roost in place so of course, that's where my chickens sleep. I want them to sleep in the coop at night. Not sure how to retrain them in the AZ heat.
Things I've done so far
Cleaned coop
Used DE everywhere
Increased ventilation

Any ideas are welcome
 
Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! I would re-enforce that fabricated coop, as the high wind's from our monsoon's can break them apart. My first one was one of those, and I am glad that I had not yet moved my chick's at the time out there yet. You are welcome to come and chat with the rest of us that are here in AZ. to learn what the rest of us do with our flock's out here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/page-7025
 
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Without knowing how many chickens, their age and dimensions of the coop, it's a little hard to say for sure. It could just be they haven't learned to go inside at night, you have to teach them. Just place them on the roost after dark every night for a week or so and they should start doing it on their own.

But if you have more than 3 birds, it could be a little crowded for them. I started with a prefab and I felt it was barely enough room for 3 grown hens that free ranged every day AND it was the XL size! Their specs are very deceiving and usually list bantams when advising how many birds will fit. And you definitely have to add a lot more ventilation... can never have too much!

Even with my much larger coop and run now, if I place a high perch in the run they will sometimes want to roost there at night. The only solution I found was to remove the perch, then they somehow prefer to go roost inside. Best wishes with your flock!
 

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