Chickens Sleeping Outside at Night

[barbiehicks]

Hello all, my hens have resorted to sleeping outside on their perch instead of inside their coop. I am kind of worried, as I live in a more rural area, and coyotes are plentiful. I have seen them walk along our fence, and as a chicken owner, that's pretty scary, knowing that predators are nearby. I have tried placing them one by one back inside their coop, but they walk right back out! Not to mention, even when it rains they stay outside....and get drenched! Could they get sick? I keep their coop clean with fresh pine shavings, and I keep all spiders out! Is this normal behavior?

I'm a new chicken mom. My chickens sleep outside of their coop, in the secure run, on a roost. They've never shown any interest in going inside at night...?

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm a new chicken mom. My chickens sleep outside of their coop, in the secure run, on a roost. They've never shown any interest in going inside at night...?

Welcome to BYC.

If your run is designed to be predator-proof and the roost is adequately sheltered it's not a problem -- except that it may point to other possible issues in the coop.

 

[barbiehicks]

Welcome to BYC.

If your run is designed to be predator-proof and the roost is adequately sheltered it's not a problem -- except that it may point to other possible issues in the coop.

 

[barbiehicks]

Thank you! I've never trained them to go in their coop at night, I've just always let them sleep outside on the roost. Do I need to train them?

 

[danielle2003]

Photos of your set up would help with assessing.

As a general rule you want 1 sq ft of ventilation per standard hen. In a hot climate such as yours, adding even more would be ideal.

Here's the entrance of the coop....The door stays open:

 

[danielle2003]

Photos of your set up would help with assessing.

As a general rule you want 1 sq ft of ventilation per standard hen. In a hot climate such as yours, adding even more would be ideal.

Here's the back.....I keep this open at all times:

 

[danielle2003]

Photos of your set up would help with assessing.

As a general rule you want 1 sq ft of ventilation per standard hen. In a hot climate such as yours, adding even more would be ideal.

Here's a look inside from the back window.....

 

[danielle2003]

I don't think this is enough ventilation. I don't know how or where to add any more. They have been sleeping outside on and off for awhile now, and there doesn't seem to be a problem. Any suggestions?

 

[barbiehicks]

Not if you're satisfied with them being in the run in all the weather and seasons you experience. (Putting your location in your profile is helpful because climate matters).

My new Open Air coop build is essentially a roofed run with a windbreak at one end because I live in a hot climate.

We live in SW Arizona. Their run provides plenty of shade. I give them a fan during the day in the summer and had a heat lamp during the winter.

 

[barbiehicks]

So that's essentially an open-air coop and they like it.

The heat lamp isn't necessary for fully-feathered, adult chickens unless you get extended periods of below-zero temperatures.

Thank you for your input! <3