flock stopped going into coop at dusk

[hayescamp]

My 7 ladies and Roo always marched right into their coop at dusk and we'll before the automatic door closed. Then one or two birds got locked out, then more and now the whole flock won't go in until about 9:30. The coop is clean, lit (lights on from 4 to 10:30), and we'll ventilated. They hang out in the light that comes from my house or in one of the covered runs. What can I do? They are free ranged all day in my yard (tightly fenced with an apron) so they get their fill of foraging. Idea?

 

[appps]

Any chance you have rats or something scaring them from going in?

 

[junebuggena]

With the changing seasons, it's getting dark much earlier and much faster. They may just be having a bit of trouble adjusting to the changing light of fall/winter. Check your coop over for potential pests. If it's mites, then treat and clean everything. Then you'll need to retrain your flock to use their coop. That means physically putting them in each night.

 

[aart]

My 7 ladies and Roo always marched right into their coop at dusk and we'll before the automatic door closed. Then one or two birds got locked out, then more and now the whole flock won't go in until about 9:30. The coop is clean, lit (lights on from 4 to 10:30), and we'll ventilated. They hang out in the light that comes from my house or in one of the covered runs. What can I do? They are free ranged all day in my yard (tightly fenced with an apron) so they get their fill of foraging. Idea?

Are your lights on late for winter laying?
Mine come on early morning.....so they go to roost with natural sunset.