Coop door blowing shut, confusing the girls

[JennsPeeps]

Know those little slot cars that bump into things then turn another way and bump into another wall? That's my poor little flock! The past 2 days have been pretty breezy and the coop door has blown closed at some point during the day. I've gone out around 7:30 to lock them in, only to find my cochin banty going up the ramp over and over, trying to get through the wood door, clucking and fretting about the mysterious obstacle.

OK, so chickens are clearly not bright.

Poor girls were so confused about why they couldn't get into their coop at roosting time!! It was pretty funny.

 

[2manyhats]

Poor confused little babies. May have to tie that door open or you'll be in for years of therapy. LOL

 

[scooter147]

I had that happen to me several years ago. It was the time of year when they were all on the roost before I got home at night.

I had chickens every where. Roosting on the coop, on the fence and in the trees etc. etc. etc.

Never really did figure out how they managed to get out as I have netting over the top but it just proves the instinct to roost is strong and they were determined.

The funny part was as I was collecting them to put them away they would scream bloody murder when I grabbed them, the neighboor was out smoking a cigarette and heard the rukus, he went back in and came out with is flash light and shotgun!!!!!!!
I yelled' "Brian it's me"

 

[ChickaD]

We used to occasionally forget to prop open our coop door with a cement block, then when the wind gusted our poor girls would be found huddling in front of the closed door. At least it made me a temporary hero in their eyes when I'd let them in!

 

[JennsPeeps]

It reminded me of the scene in Harry Potter when they're going through the wall at the train station. I could just hear Tribble mutter, "I *know* there's an opening here somewhere!"

 

[Heather J]

I've done pretty well lately, but when we have wind from the west sometimes my coop door gets blown shut, then I find them roosting in the duck/goose enclosure and huddled against the wall of the coop--as close to home as they can get, lol. A few times I've had my girls get locked out and one or two has wandered somewhere else for the night (I've never figured out where they get to), but they come back right as rain in the morning, so I lure them back into the run and shut the gate before letting the rest of them out. I try to avoid having them wander at night, though since I know we get coyotes in my neighborhood.

 

[FarmerMack]

Quote:
I was having simular issues thats why i switch their door to a guillotine type door. it's unaffected by the wind


Farmer Mack

 

[JennsPeeps]

Hehe... my yard is too small for them to wander very far!

I opened the door more carefully yesterday and it stayed open. I did make the mistake, however, of sitting in their run to wait for them to roost. They decided to roost on me rather than go into their coop.

 

[kwynn's birds Alaska]

That happens here too...Now I prop it open with a rock during the day, and closed during the night. It's sad to see them all confused, and wanting in, but the door is shut.