Hen not wanting to go in the coop at night

[Gabbychickens]

We stopped free ranging our girls about a year ago due to a hawk. Recently I started free ranging them in the evenings because I want them to get more plants and bugs since they eat anything I try to grow in their run before it can get started. It's not safe,but it's safer in the evenings then the mornings here. Anyway, for the past three nights Ophelia has roasted on my front porch nestled against the house instead of going back into the coop with everyone else. I carry her back to the coop when I lock it all up for the night. I would think she would feel safer in the coop than outside all alone. She's not near the top of the pecking order, but I never see her being picked on either. What's up with my girl?

 

[aart]

What is your climate? Putting your location in your profile can help folks give better answers/suggestions.

If it's hot where you live it could be that it's hotter in the coop and she'd rather be outside.
Maybe there's some pests in the coop?
Maybe she's ill?

Maybe she's just enjoying a new location..... leave them in the run for a few days to get her back in the habit of cooping up at night.

 

[Gabbychickens]

We are in Michigan but having a very hot and humid week. We clean the coop weekly so I assume no pests. I really hope not ill since she's one of my favorites! Too late not to free range today, but I can leave them in tomorrow. I wish I could leave her where she wants to be but we live in the woods so it's a high predator area. Thank you! I will let you know if she goes in the coop on her own if she's confined to the run.

 

[aart]

We are in Michigan but having a very hot and humid week. We clean the coop weekly so I assume no pests. I really hope not ill since she's one of my favorites! Too late not to free range today, but I can leave them in tomorrow. I wish I could leave her where she wants to be but we live in the woods so it's a high predator area. Thank you! I will let you know if she goes in the coop on her own if she's confined to the run.

I'm in Michigan too....it's been a miserable few days, but cooling as I type.
My birds are confined because of predators too.

 

[Gabbychickens]

Yep, the rain helped cool it off. Be interesting to see if she goes in tonight now that it's cooled down.

 

[aart]

Yep, the rain helped cool it off. Be interesting to see if she goes in tonight now that it's cooled down.

No rain here...where are you at?

Have you checked out the Michigan chat thread?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/newestpost/697050

 

[Gabbychickens]

We are in the thumb. One thunder storm, then later a rain storm. Where are you?

Ophelia was on the porch again tonight. I put her on my catio since it's safer than the porch and I don't know why she won't go to the coop. Tomorrow I won't free range them and see if she goes in at night.

 

[aart]

We are in the thumb. One thunder storm, then later a rain storm. Where are you?

Ophelia was on the porch again tonight. I put her on my catio since it's safer than the porch and I don't know why she won't go to the coop. Tomorrow I won't free range them and see if she goes in at night.

West of Kazoo.

 

[Trodore]

In the thumb here myself. My chickens loved the rain we had yesterday as much as I did.

 

[Gabbychickens]

Mine headed for the coop. Guess they are big babies lol. Did you get hit by the storm a couple days ago? It skimmed us, but we didn't get the full force of it.

We have found if we take Ophelia off the railing she will go roost in the coop on her own. Crazy chicken.