Chickens stopped going into coop at night

[SkyAJK]

This coop may be the problem or one of her flockmates.Maybe both. Chickens are creatures of habit and don't like change so whatever it is you need to get to the bottom of it. If your flock has ever been attacked in this coop she may not feel safe

I sweep the coop yesterday, put some mite/lice powder in it. The other 3 went into the coop without issue, except for her. This hen is well respected by the flock, everyone wants to be her friend.

This coop houses 4 chickens, I remove all bedding materials every morning and put new one in every afternoon. I have the doors all open during the day. It has fresh air and clean.

Last night, I put her with the other coop she went for the other day, she did not want that, she wanted to return to her old coop, but I did not let her. I will see if she wants to be back to her coop again tonight.

 

[Ywilliams64]

In need of some advice. Florida resident here and I am wondering if anyone use an exhaust fan in their chicken coop. If so what bran? and where to purchase? I have tried to get my girls to sleep outside the coop in their run, but that is a no go. They have been trained to go into the coop and into the coop they will go. It doesn't seem overbearingly hot in the coop, but I am a 5'4 human who does not run hot. I checked on the girls last night and some of them seem to be panting inside the coop. Don't judge, yes I have a camera in my coop. I thank you in advance for the advice.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

In need of some advice. Florida resident here and I am wondering if anyone use an exhaust fan in their chicken coop. If so what bran? and where to purchase? I have tried to get my girls to sleep outside the coop in their run, but that is a no go. They have been trained to go into the coop and into the coop they will go. It doesn't seem overbearingly hot in the coop, but I am a 5'4 human who does not run hot. I checked on the girls last night and some of them seem to be panting inside the coop. Don't judge, yes I have a camera in my coop. I thank you in advance for the advice.

Can’t help you with the fan (although I know they have to be able to handle the dust), but I’m looking for a coop camera recommendation!

What kind do you have, and how do you like it?

 

[Ywilliams64]

I have Blink, but would recommend Ring because it comes with a solar panel. When the battery dies on the Blink, I will be installing a Ring Camera. Remember if you have an automatic chicken door make sure that the sensor on the camera is not facing the sensor on the automatic coop door. For the summer I remove the batteries so that the door stays open all night, in hopes that they would roost in the run. Not sure how to get them to do that.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I have Blink, but would recommend Ring because it comes with a solar panel. When the battery dies on the Blink, I will be installing a Ring Camera. Remember if you have an automatic chicken door make sure that the sensor on the camera is not facing the sensor on the automatic coop door. For the summer I remove the batteries so that the door stays open all night, in hopes that they would roost in the run. Not sure how to get them to do that.

Thanks!

 

[Redhds]

Thanks for the suggestion. This is more or less what I am already doing.

I was hoping for a solution that didn't require a person to go out there. I experienced a week or two of them doing it all on their own, but now it's been about a month where they refuse. It was really nice not needing to go out the extra 1-2 times/day to turn on a light on, tuck them in, or turn the light back off so it's not on all night.
In particular, this extra work increases the requirements of anyone we ask to come help take care of them which is not ideal.

Since we are suburban chicken owners, I try to keep them inside their coop during night hours to minimize noise & disturbance to our neighbors.

P.S. Once I get out there and put them at the doorway, most of them will go in and stay in, they just don't want to go to bed on their own. I've trained them to appreciate evening snuggles and tuckins the same way my kids want them. LOL

A few of my eight, 6 mos old girls have started doing the same thing! All summer they put themselves to bed nicely in our Omlet coop once the little light turned on. Now two to four have decided they prefer to roost on a big bar in their covered “playpen”. Each night I now have to go out with a flashlight to check and regularly remove them one at a time to place in the coop doorway. If I go out late, it’s so hard to wake them and get them off the bar! We’re wondering why the nighttime change. We have the largest Omlet Eglu Pro so there’s plenty of space, it’s cleaned daily and our young ladies (who are busy laying wonderfully now) get along quite well. All we can think of is it gets dark early (and soon a time change). Hoping this wise chicken community will have a little insight or tips. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mrs. K]

Very often, what worked well when chicks were much smaller, does not work well when birds become full grown. Being raised together, letting them out to 'free range' will not make up for a too small of coop. And adding light, or removing light won't change it.

The thing is, your chickens are telling you that the coop is too small. They want more space, to roost. And are perfectly happy to roost where they want. If you force them in the coop, there is a very good chance, that with the long nights of winter, trouble will show up.

To ATXInstantFlock - it looks like the 'run' is in a mostly enclosed area, if it is predator proof, I would not worry about where they sleep.


Mrs K

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