Having some trouble with my coop?

[ChandaH]

OK, maybe I will remove all the shelves. Lower the roosts, move them off the walls a bit, add a roost across the back window, make some little ladders and put in the single nest box....

That 'should' eliminate any reason they aren't all roosting in there....

Then there is the door issue. Should I put a door on there and put them in and close it at night or should I allow them to roost outside?

Thanks,
Chanda

 

[ECBW]

I do have a "pop" door. I locked them in when the birds were new to the coop to acclimate, which was very quickly. Now, I use the door to keep the cold out during severe winter weather. I also close the door when they insist on "helping" me during housekeeping. Other than that, the door stays open. It is in a secure run.

Maybe experiment with just blocking the opening to the coop rather than a door.

 

[mcostas]

Is the roosting outside a big issue? Mine all roost outside, always have. Of course it's pretty hot here. They do go in the coop in the afternoon sometimes. At least they used to. Now I have pretty much a whole new flock but my banty from my first flock is broody and just sits on a nest all day, that's why I think my new ones don't go in the coop much. I have a covered kennel run that has large branches in it for roosts. They seem to prefer roosting outside on them. Even in the winter when it got cold for this area they roosted outside. I actually put them in the coop at night by hand when I thought they should be out of the weather.

 

[ECBW]

Good point. I guess if the birds are secure and protected, why not? For me, we have predators and cold weather to deal with.