Chickens suddenly stopped going in coop at night!

[PeachygirlGA]

I came home from a bike ride 2 days ago and it was getting dark. I went out to shut the coop and found only 2 out of my 12 chickens on the roost. Found them, all but 1, roosting all over the yard! Took a while but hubby and I got them all inside. Last night I made sure to go outside around the time they usually go back in and they were starting to roost in the same spots again! We FINALLY, after about an hour of chicken herding, got them all back inside the coop. Any ideas what is going on??? I've had 5 of them for about 2 years and they have ALWAYS gone back inside. I got 4 more last year and they have also always gone back in. I have 3 new ones that are about 4 months old but they have also always gone back in. If I don't let them out for a few days will they forget about trying to stay outside?

 

[Zaxby's2]

It sounds like you free range your birds do try as you said keeping them locked in their pen for a few days so they have to use your coop then you can try letting them back out

 

[appps]

This is only a guess but any chance you have rats making the proper nesting area less inviting suddenly?

 

[Roxannemc]

I came home from a bike ride 2 days ago and it was getting dark. I went out to shut the coop and found only 2 out of my 12 chickens on the roost. Found them, all but 1, roosting all over the yard! Took a while but hubby and I got them all inside. Last night I made sure to go outside around the time they usually go back in and they were starting to roost in the same spots again! We FINALLY, after about an hour of chicken herding, got them all back inside the coop. Any ideas what is going on??? I've had 5 of them for about 2 years and they have ALWAYS gone back inside. I got 4 more last year and they have also always gone back in. I have 3 new ones that are about 4 months old but they have also always gone back in. If I don't let them out for a few days will they forget about trying to stay outside?

Wonder is the coop enclosed? small?
Maybe they are too hot in there now that summer is here?
Are there lots of flys? Maybe clean it out put all fresh flooring
Could a snake be in there or some small animal ? My chooks........... usually there is a reason they dont go in if they always did.
But to me heat would be the most likely culprit this time of year
I let most of mine free range this summer and have 2x4 tractor coops for all. Funny to watch them ....some go in certain coops for the night especially one that is raised on legs has a hardware cloth floor and 3 ft by 3 inch hardware cloth windows at the top .
About 6 opted to go in that one and others wont touch a coop
3 are empty all the time ..
well 2 are large dog carriers and another real tractor coop is on the ground too.
They just roost all over the yard mostly on TOP of coops

Some go in a more cage like coop that is mostly all chicken wire with a plywood roof and floor
. My grown sweet huge part english Orp roo and his hatchmate splash orp hen lay under the screened coop and he is on top of her like shes a chick to protect her.
Cute but I do worry about them not even up higher like some others are.
I do have many trees and bushes in the yard to help keep the owls away and have a large E mastiff girl who roams the yard off and on day and evening until about 10 or 11 pm and other E mastiffs in a yard off this one so they bark at night if anything comes around
.
Helps keep them all somewhat safe anyway and at least they are cooler out with the humidity now and high temps.If youdont have a dog etc maybe this wouldn't be ideal for you but maybe try some blocks of ice in a big container in the coop?Just a thought.

Oh and if you have a broody girl she may be chasing them out .

 

[PeachygirlGA]

I have seen a rat in there but not lately. My son killed one a few months ago and I did see another but it's been a couple months since I saw it. I haven't seen any other critters, but the heat might be the problem. I am planning on not letting them out for a few days and see what happens. I really can't let them roost out in the yard at night since there are coyotes, foxes, raccoon, etc. roaming about.

 

[Roxannemc]

I have seen a rat in there but not lately. My son killed one a few months ago and I did see another but it's been a couple months since I saw it. I haven't seen any other critters, but the heat might be the problem. I am planning on not letting them out for a few days and see what happens. I really can't let them roost out in the yard at night since there are coyotes, foxes, raccoon, etc. roaming about.

How is the heat there? Id check the temp in the coop if you are closing them in for a few daysdont want it to be too hot but maybe its real airy?
I understand about out......Critters.
Really muggy today and tonite and hot. here.
My hen with her 3 chicks about 3 weeks old now are roosting on top of the coop tonite! first time but so hot.
The ones with the hardware cloth floor coop are all in there tonite so guess they arent too hot Almost all the rest of mine are out on top of coops etc....I dont blame them but my fingers are crossed too no critters,.

 

[PeachygirlGA]

The coop has plenty of ventilation, plus I've been leaving the door open so I know it's not too hot in there. Plus we haven't gotten over 90 degrees much at all this summer. Very mild for us in GA! They have a coop where they roost and a fenced in run around the coop so they go in and out. When I'm home I let them free range outside of the run.

 

[SHelms]

You might want to check for red mites also. They can get in coops and create havoc.

 

[Sophia5]

Check for red mites. They are horrible little things that suck on the creatures blood in the night.
They like to live in the cracks in the perches and the walls. and the chickens will be reluctant to go and sleep on the perches.

 

[Sophia5]

Red mites