Chicks will not roost since time change

[Wrencher]

Just like the title says my hens will not roost in the coop since the time change. I have had these chickens since the spring and they were fine all summer. I have an automatic door and every night after dark I have to go up and put some or all of the girls to bed. Any suggestions would be great. This happened when I first got the girls but only lasted about a week. We are going on 2 weeks of this. Thanks for the help

 

[stevethack]

Check inside of coop for a large snake...or rat hole??
Chickens can't tell time so the time change has nothing much to do with it.. Light to dark is the only thing they pretty much understand.. Something has them spooked about going into the coop at dark.
If the door is on a timer make sure it's closing just at dark and not an hour later and scaring them with the noise after they are sleeping.

 

[Wrencher]

Yea no snakes no rats. Door does close at dark. Not sure what else to do. I guess just keep putting them in and see if it sticks.

 

[bobbi-j]

As mentioned above, there has to be something going on. They really can't tell time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

On another forum it was mentioned that the sun is getting lower on the horizon and can make the coop darker than it used to be at dusk and they can't see inside as well, and are hesitant to go in, just a thought.

 

[Wrencher]

I just thought of this today. I moved the water can outside the coop cause they where spilling it all over the place cause they are spending so much time in there due to time change. I wonder if they want water while in there and do not want to be in there?

 

[aart]

I just thought of this today. I moved the water can outside the coop cause they where spilling it all over the place cause they are spending so much time in there due to time change. I wonder if they want water while in there and do not want to be in there?

Like oldhen mentioned(not sure you read it)......It really has nothing to do wit the 'time change'....but it could have to do with the lowering angle of the sun.

Maybe it's darker in the coop than it was, say, a month ago when the sun was a little higher from the horizon.

Has anything else changed in the coop?
Keep them in the coop for a few days, might help re-acclimate them to the coop.

 

[Wrencher]

Well I have officially tried everything. Nothing has really changed other than I put some insulation in the ceiling to help hold the heat in . I locked them in the coop for a day in a half and still nothing . They will not go in there at night. Tried light on so they could see in coop so that it wasn't dark. I have a photo cell on my door so when the weather really starts to get cold this is going to be a problem if I don't solve it soon. Any suggestions? Could take the door off but really don't like that idea. HELP!!!!

 

[Blooie]

Have you checked the roosts and the birds for signs of mites? I had some that wouldn't go into the coop at night because the mites were tearing them up in the dark! Got rid of the mite issue (as well as one ever gets "rid" of a mite problem), locked them in the coop for a couple of days, and they relaxed, willing once again to back inside. Sometimes we get so busy looking for the big reasons we not think about the tiny ones. Just a thought.

 

[aart]

Well I have officially tried everything. Nothing has really changed other than I put some insulation in the ceiling to help hold the heat in . I locked them in the coop for a day in a half and still nothing . They will not go in there at night. Tried light on so they could see in coop so that it wasn't dark. I have a photo cell on my door so when the weather really starts to get cold this is going to be a problem if I don't solve it soon. Any suggestions? Could take the door off but really don't like that idea. HELP!!!!

Hmmm...what does the photo cell have to do with the cold?

I'd lock them in the coop for a 3-4 days 24/7, then try again to let them into the run.