Chickens sleeping in run

[southfloridasilkies]

Hi again!

My chicks are 1-2 months old now and when we originally moved them outside into the coop/run they were very good about returning to their coop at night. However, after a few days they decided to sleep in their run. Their run is very secure and I’m not too worried about them sleeping out there other than we get some pretty hard rainstorms here. The other night I went out in the middle of the night and they were all standing in the run completely soaked while it was pouring and moved them into their coop. They go into their coop for 4-5 hours during the day because their run is completely in the sun in the afternoon and it provides a nice shady space for them. They know how to get in there and know it provides shelter. Right now, I’m moving them into the coop every evening. I’m wondering how important is it to keep putting them in every night if they are choosing to sleep in their run? If they are really bothered by the rain will they figure out to go into the coop? Thanks!

 

[southfloridasilkies]

To add, there are also several areas in the run they could get out of the rain but they weren’t seeking any shelter.

 

[Chicken lover1980]

Hey! so it seems like you have a small dilemma here lol. chickens stick to a routine and once they make one it's hard to break it if it's something like this. For them there's not much logic (hence the staying out in the rain) but because it's their routine they will stick to it. To break this routine you can make a new routine where you lock them up/put them into the coop every night until you see they start doing it by themselves. It should take anywhere from a few days to weeks for them to make it a new routine.

And them sitting in the rain can actually cause respiratory issues and cold/wet related health issues, so the faster you get them to go into the coop at night the better.

Good luck!

and I don't mean anything bad when I say they are not very logic based. I love my chickens but they don't always make smart choices. For example when they decide to sit under a wood pallet table when it's raining, soaking wet, and acting all sad about it.

 

[Byrd gal]

I have one pullet that wants to roost on top of the coop. I can't reach up there so I have to shoot her with a water gun to get her off to go roost with the others. Every night I be darned if she isn't up there. It has been a month you would think she would get the hint. I guess we can only try. Good luck with your birds!! I feel ya.

 

[Folly's place]

Can we see pictures of your coop and run, with dimensions? Maybe that coop just doesn't suit, for some reason.
If the run is actually safe, having them decide where to sleep is okay. They should learn to roost, the higher the better though.
Mary

 

[Toothpick]

My initial thought is there is a reason they are not going in the coop at night. Perhaps something in there they don’t like. Not enough roosts in there, or room. To hot maybe. Something that scared them out one night and they just won’t go in anymore. I‘m not sure what it could be as I’ve never had this problem. I think photos would help too.

 

[Byrd gal]

I had to hang branches from the roof to get the babies to roost. They didn't like the roosting boards or maybe the biggies being able to peck at them if they came to their side. They can be finicky about bedding down.

 

[southfloridasilkies]

Our run is 10x12 I believe and the coop 6x4 I think. The coop looks smaller in these photos than in real life. The coop has pine shavings for bedding, water, food, and roosting bars have been added after these were taken. We do only have silkies though and while some like to hop around on the toys we’ve added to to their run (homemade chicken tree, large roosting bars, swing) none of them have ever slept on a roost. They sleep in a giant fluff pile. If I had to guess, the run may be cooler at night. We live in South Florida and it’s very hot.

 

[Folly's place]

Silkies really can't fly, so no wonder they don't get up on roosting bars. Your set-up looks good for your climate, although consider adding a roof over at least part of the run area.
How many birds total?
And wide roof overhangs help a lot too.
How do you get around in there? And how is the hardware cloth secured? It's nice, but maybe not as safe from predators as it could be. Nice for Silkies, who won't fly up high anyway.
And these chicks don't have any adults to show them how to get to bed at night...
Mary

 

[aart]

If I had to guess, the run may be cooler at night.

That's what I'd guess too.

We live in South Florida and it’s very hot.

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