Getting the Birds Back to the Coop

[teriz1091]

Our flock lives in an old chicken house. A lot of times I let them free range all day, but lately they haven’t been going to bed at night, trying to roost on our porch instead, so I left them locked in their house yesterday.

Poor decision. The birds have been refusing to go to bed because of a possum getting in. I lost a good productive hen to it, chomping away on her in the chicken house. i let the birds out today.

They didn’t go to bed. They’re all on the porch again. Ugh.

How do I get them retrained to go to bed? The possum is dead, but sleeping outside is a death sentence for them. And I’m annoyed that I have to waste 30 minutes rounding up all the birds to lock them up for the night.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately you can only keep rounding them up until they feel safe again. If a possum could get in than you could get more predators, so your chickens could have a reason to fear returning to their coop. You may need to make it more secure, and keep at them.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Unfortunately you can only keep rounding them up until they feel safe again. If a possum could get in than you could get more predators, so your chickens could have a reason to fear returning to their coop. You may need to make it more secure, and keep at them.

I agree. Go into the coop and take a look around there may be some obvious issues that need attention. Chickens will tell you by their behaviors when somethings wrong. So think like a chicken....really not trying to be funny. Winter is coming perhaps a nice going over in prep for winter (protection) is just what’s needed. Best wishes

 

[teriz1091]

I’m fairly certain the possum got in due to my own inattention. The chicken house is divided by a chicken wire “fence”, & we use the smaller portion when we get meat birds. We butchered meat birds last weekend, & I didn’t bother to shut the door to that pen when we finished. I’ve never bothered to check the interior dividing fence for holes, as the perimeter is enclosed. I’m guessing it walked right in through the open door & found a hole in the dividing fence.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately your chickens don't know that. To them going back to the coop means death. It will take a while for them to feel safe in it again.

 

[chickens really]

You will need to retrain them to think of that Coop and Run as safe. Make sure it's secure and lock them in for a couple of weeks.