going back into coop after being let out

[Land of Lost Toys]

I let my 19 week old hens out of the coop and into the run about 7am every day. Sometime around 10:30am they all go back into the coop for a few hours. The first time this happened I thought it was because a predator came around and spooked them back into the coop, but I see them do it almost every day now. They didn't do it until they were about 17 weeks old.

Today, they have been in there for almost 2 hours. I checked on them to see what they were doing....just hanging out....on the floor...one on the roost. I checked for eggs...none. What's up with this?

Does anyone else have their hens go back in the coop for a few hours like mine?

 

[Amethyste]

Mine always have.

I let them out, off they go. A few hours later they are all hanging out in the coop. Then they all go BACK outside again to play lol

Back and forth al day long. I wouldnt worry too much about it...sounds like they have the freedom to go back and forth and imho thats a good thing!

Might be the times theya re going in its too warm outside, or in my case, its food time and they know their food and water is inside the coop. I know when the occasional hawk does his flyby, they all head in to the house for a while too.

Could it be something making the rounds that is scaring them?

 

[Land of Lost Toys]

The first time I saw them inside, I thought something may have scared them....hawk, coyote, or other. No other noises since we live pretty far from other people. I just found it odd that only in the past couple weeks did they start going in for a few hours then come back out.

 

[Tala]

Mine come out in the mornings tired of being cooped in, but by noon they're all hanging out back in their house again. I think they take a siesta.

 

[HBuehler]

Mine stay inside during the sunny part of the day..come out about 5am and then they go in late morning.Around 5pm they come out again until dark. They know where the cool fans are

 

[ams3651]

when in the coop and run they go in and out all day. They were roosting today around 1pm when i went in to check and feed. When they are out in the yard, sometimes they are out in the grass and occasionally they will go back on top the well, their favorite hang out, for quite a while. Its got lots of gravel and a nice big snowball bush next to it for shade. Its their favorite spot for a dust bath too.

 

[mdbokc]

Ours go back and forth too. But when inside, they do come flying out in a hurry when then hear the patio door open and slam shut. They know we are out and they have high hopes every time.

And doggone it, I usually accommodate them somehow. Sometimes I shudder at how much time I spend with these girls. But I love every minute.

 

[Bedste]

that is what mine did also until they found a new napping place under the house in the cool dirt.... that is where the siesta is happening nowadays... it was anyway.. we are on lockup for a few days due to hawks..... GO AWAY HAWKS so we can get on with our lives...

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Yes I believe they are looking for shade. Mine hang out in the coop if they cannot get to the raspberry patch or some other form of jungly shade. If they could get to the cornfield, I am certain they would be in there all day.

 

[CityChook]

They must like the house you built for them....