I got a question. Why wont chickens get out of the cold when they have they option? I built a small coop for my 4 golden comets and 2 barred rocks but they wont go inside it they would rather roost on top. I have put themin it at night but when i go out in the morning they are back on top. It is really cold here and i dont wont them to freeze. Any ideas?
The chickens are probably not cold, especially if they are in the sun on top of the coop. At night, they have to be inside the coop. This can get annoying, but if you keep putting them in, they will learn. Sometimes, subdominant birds will try to roost outside instead of getting pecked on the roost. If you suspect this, try adding more roosting space.
It may be that the coop is too short. They like roosting at a higher elevation so you might try to add some "legs" to the coop and see if that helps. Otherwise you may have to block the top with chicken wire Good Luck!
they are fine in the daytime. It will be hard to lift the coop. They are about 3 feet off the ground and are in a fenced in area. I will try to keep after them until they get it.
