Chickens won't go in coop at night!!!

[gina1009]

My chickens are 6 months old and just started laying. I have had them since they were 24 hours old. Once they were old enough to go outside, they always came back to the coop and went inside at night. All this changed about a month ago. Now, for some reason, they will roost on top of the coop! Every night I put them inside. I am going to try the light and let you know how it works.

 

[CatrionaB]

Hi, we have a flock of 15 chickens (13 hens, 2 cockerels), and we recently bought another 11 hens (point of lay). We put them into the coop with the others, and apart from the usual 'pecking order' flurries, they're getting along fine. However, 7 of the 11 newbies are still refusing to go into the coop at night. They huddle together underneath it, and we have to go out, pick them up and manually push them through the entrance hole. I'm not sure why 4 of the newbies have got the hang of going in and the others haven't (it took these 4 a few days to get it, but they cottoned on fairly quickly). The coop has plenty of space for them all, and they come out of the hole fine every morning. Any suggestions for getting the 7 mavericks to go in? Do you think a light would help, or will it just annoy the ones that DO go in? Thanks!

 

[GratitudeGates]

I take a bowl that has meal worms in it rattle it and mine follow me to coop and enjoy the treat.

 

[CatrionaB]

Thanks! I tried leaving a trail of mealworms up the ramp, but they ignored them :-/

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm not sure why 4 of the newbies have got the hang of going in and the others haven't (it took these 4 a few days to get it, but they cottoned on fairly quickly). The coop has plenty of space for them all, and they come out of the hole fine every morning. Any suggestions for getting the 7 mavericks to go in? Do you think a light would help, or will it just annoy the ones that DO go in? Thanks!

Possibly they're being bullied off the roosts or kicked out of the coop by the existing birds. Do you happen to have a coop camera to spy on them at roosting time (or a window to peek through)? Any photo of your set up for troubleshooting?

 

[CatrionaB]

Thanks! No, we don't have a coop camera, but will try to keep an eye on them at dusk. Last night only 6 were out, and we've put another roosting branch in the coop to encourage them to use the top shelf, so maybe that will help!

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

So i put my ladies outside last Friday. Ever since then I have to put them in the coop at night. I went out last night at 830 at night and they are all huddled up with each other in the corner of the run. They have no probs coming out of the coop when i open it. Any suggestions would be great!!!!!!

Letting them out early and guiding them back in before dark. they have weak eyes at night. just like any birds. properly lighting the coop will be extremely helpful.

 

[jpsr]

This is the first time I ever had this problem, but I'm starting all over with new chicks and a new coop. I found myself placing them inside the first two nights... so I left them inside all day today, threw some straw and a little feed in the corners, and lit the coop with a 45W bulb. That should somewhat simulate their old environment enough that they will start considering inside the coop as "home". I hope so anyway
I will be keeping them inside the coop for a couple of days.

 

[jpsr]

This is the first time I ever had this problem, but I'm starting all over with new chicks and a new coop. I found myself placing them inside the first two nights... so I left them inside all day today, threw some straw and a little feed in the corners, and lit the coop with a 45W bulb. That should somewhat simulate their old environment enough that they will start considering inside the coop as "home". I hope so anyway
I will be keeping them inside the coop for a couple of days.

Just to follow up.. This Worked.
I let them out today and they headed back inside around dusk.

 

[Jrios58]

Do they have to go in at night? Mine have only been in their coop a couple weeks, and I'm leaving their windows open since it's at least 60 at night. Tonight they all went in on their own but once it gets hot they'll need as much ventilation as they can get, so I figured I wouldn't lock then in....