Chickens won't use coop

[flyawayca]

I have four pullets that are 5-6 weeks old. We built an A-frame run and coop combo. The coop is at the end of the run, not on the top.

My pullets were moved to the run this last Saturday. They refuse to stay in the coop. They sleep outside in the run every night. The run is completely predator proof. Our nightly lows are the upper 50s and lower 60s. The highs are in the upper 90s and low 100s.

Do I need to worry about them? Is it okay if they just sleep in the run? Will they eventually use the coop when it starts to get colder this fall?

I don't have easy access to the coop door to close them in every night and open it in the mornings. Plus I leave for work when it's still dark outside.

They free range during the afternoon when I'm home and I have no problem with getting them to return to the run, they just want nothing to do with the coop.

Thank you!

 

[ShockValue]

Lock them in the coop for a week with no access to the run or free range. (Assuming it's well ventilated and you won't roast your chickens!)

This will enforce to them that this is "home" and anything outside the coop proper are excursions.

 

[jennychick45]

Pictures of coop?

 

[flyawayca]

This is the coop before it was finished (the only picture I have that easily shows you the front of the coop attached to the run.) They do have a ramp/ladder to get in and out. The run is now covered for shade.

I do worry about locking them in all day because of how hot it gets. The coop is ventilated though.

 

[jennychick45]

Maybe they don't go in there because it is too hot and stuffy and it is more comfortable outside in the breeze I would freeze water bottles and hang in the coop for a little coolness

 

[bobbi-j]

Yeah, that coop is way too small to lock them up. They'd probably roast in there, I'd say as long as they're safe outside, let them be. They may go in eventually. I'm guessing it's either too stuffy or maybe too crowded in there for them and they don't like it.

 

[flyawayca]

The picture may be deceptive. The coop is approx. 22.5 sq ft in size at the base granted it does tapper some from the A frame design.

But the heat may be the problem. It is ventilated but it's just so hot right now. Maybe I'll work on finding an easy way to open and close the door when they are inside just at night so they can have fresh air during the day.

 

[JackE]

I think they look at the whole thing, as their coop. You let them freerange around the yard, which is good, and they go back in at the end of the day. They are just hanging out/roosting where they are comfortable. It's probably a bit too stuffy in the enclosed part. As long as the pen area is secure, and it looks like it is, You can just let them do what they want.

 

[flyawayca]

Well it took a couple of weeks but now my chickens use the coop. I think they just had to figure out it was theirs. I didn't do anything. I just let them be and they started using it on their own.

Just wanted to update in case anyone else was concerned about the same thing