Early to bed?

[Cambium29]

My girls get restless about an hour before dark. They usually settle somewhere high and start airing their grievances. They eventually make their way into the coop by nightfall, or I'll shuffle them in if I'm nearby.

 

[Faith Hope]

Okay. So I have another question. Why would chickens start staying in their coop (instead of their very large run) most of the time, and go to bed at 2+ hours before dark (when they 5 acres to free range on)? (They do want to free range and stand at their door in the afternoon waiting for me to let them out. Then they run around for a couple of hours before heading in arond 6 or 6:30). This is new. They used to always be outside. The younger birds stay out until closer to bedtime.

Anybody have any idea why they are staying in their coop so much?

 

[flowergirl60]

Mine put themselves to bed at 8:30. Then their ready to be let out at 6:30 and not a minute later or they are really mad.