Could my hens be getting smarter?

[jimz1]

Some of my hens have been staying in the coop on the roost instead of going outside and I was wondering why. Could it be that they know if they get off the roost the roosters will jump them? It seems that when the roos go wandering around the yard, they come down and eat and drink.
Could this be possible?

 

[gritsar]

Yes, it could be that they are avoiding the roos.

 

[This_chicks_place]

I agree. When my girls aren't interested they run to the roost and stay awhile.

 

[GhostRider65]

OMG I'm having this same problem..........most of my chickens 18 weeks old, are staying in the coop, all day!!!!
they hardly get down from the roost, but If I chase the 2 white devils out and the other roos............ waiting on butchering day
then they get down and eat. I even added a waterer and feeder over the top roost so they can eat and drink, arggggg I have come to the conclusion all roosters are mean Mean MEAN.................OR I JUST LOCK THEIR NAUGHTY BUTTS OUT IN THE PEN UNTIL DARK SO THEY CAN'T SEE TOO HARASS THE OTHERS, otherwise it's fighting an screaming hens all day long.

 

[Allsardane]

It's a matter of "if you make it easy for them to stay there all day, they will". If food and water are in the coop and the mean ol' rooster is outside, why leave?

Mine are 17 weeks now and the rooster is the same way. The first 10 minutes every morning now involve him trying to catch every hen, but he won't even give them a second look if they are in the coop.

My mornings now consist of grabbing a random hen off the roost, placing her on the ground and yelling "flee for your life!" as the rooster hops down to see how fast she can run. As soon as the big guy goes lumbering off, the rest of the flock hops down and wanders out. He'll be back for them in a moment, but at least they can spread out and play keep away.