Hens not returning to coop

[Aprilanna500]

Hello, recently my hens stopped returning to their coop at night and I find them sleeping on top of the coop. We recently added supplemental lighting that I believe was keeping them up later than usual but now even when the light is off they stopped returning to their coop and stay in run area? Did they just get used to this or is something else wrong? How do I help make them start going back on their own?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hello, recently my hens stopped returning to their coop at night and I find them sleeping on top of the coop. We recently added supplemental lighting that I believe was keeping them up later than usual but now even when the light is off they stopped returning to their coop and stay in run area? Did they just get used to this or is something else wrong? How do I help make them start going back on their own?

Is there any chance that a critter got in your coop? Mouse, rat, snake, etc.

If not, wait until they go to sleep and then pick them up and move them one by one onto the roost. With luck it will only take a night or two of this.

 

[Aprilanna500]

No, their coop is pretty small. No critter that I've seen. I have been picking them up and putting them away. Their coop was also pretty dirty and I deep cleaned it yesterday to see if that was the issue as well

 

[lagrange chicks]

If they are overcrowded that could be why, how old are they?