Hens sitting on top of house instead of going in it... help?

[3urbanchics]

I have 3 Barred Rocks (1 roo and 2 hens) They are probably about a 3-4 weeks away from possible first egg (going by the 20 wk rule) They are all free ranging and put themselves back into the house at night. Our roo always goes to bed alone, but a week or so ago my most docile and lowest ranking hen starting sitting on top of the house and I had to physically put her in. Then she decided to roost on the the food container instead of the roost bar with the other two. Well then the last 2-3 nights, BOTH HENS are now doing this. When i put them into the house there's a little commotion and i'm not sure if my roo is after them and they don't like it, if he isnt wanting them in there, if they are just mad that i put them into it.. either way they seem to be avoiding roosting next to him.

any thoughts?


ALSO, I have 2 ISA B's that are about 1/2 the BR's age. They are free ranging with them but don't share the hen house yet. We are moving soon and I really want to integrate them.. any ideas? If i try to put them in there they will get attacked!!!

 

[ArmyWife]

not sure why really, but i have 4 hens and 1 roo that are all 17 weeks old and they used to go into coop at night on their own, but now are perching on top of coop too. I was wondering if its too hot in there right now

 

[3urbanchics]

thats a thought but our temps have been pretty cool at night the last week or so.. but maybe it is something about the coop they aren't liking?

 

[JNorth]

Here is our experience... all of our girls (we have no roo) have always roosted on the top of the coop. Each night we put them in and close the door (for protection) thinking that eventually they would get it on their own. Two things happened close together so I'm not sure which one caused the change.... first, we replaced the long window in the front of our coop with screen, thinking that poor airflow once the door is closed might be the culprit. Second we noticed that once they started to lay eggs they went in on their own. Right now we have one that has not started to lay (I think... she doesn't squat around us like the others and her comb is not as vibrant either) and she roosts on the roof every night.

 

[ArmyWife]

oh I bet we will both see a change once they are laying eggs. Now that my Leghorn has started laying eggs, she is going in more on her own Our window does have a screen but kind of worry about the air circulation. Our temps have been insane this summer! HOT HOT HOT

 

[BeulahBreezes]

Same issue with my chicks. the lowest ranker 'waits' on top of the coop for the other 3 to settle in the coop before she will fly down and go into the coop. problem is that sometimes it becomes very dark out and then she will not go in on her own...i have to tuck her in for the night. That could be dangerous if predators are lurking at dusk.......Beulah

 

[7L Farm]

Maybe put a fan in the coop also put a thermometer in there. One more thing is to go in the coop if its big enough at bed time & sit in there for awhile.Then think to yourself how a chicken would feel sitting in there wearing a down jacket. You could need more ventilation.

 

[kalibrarian]

My Polish just started laying eggs on Sunday. She's laid two so far, but still sits on top of the coop and I have to put her in every night. I have two 4 week old pullets that I just put outside with my Polish and Silkie hens last week. Now THEY are up on top of the coop with the Polish. I have to put all three in at night. I don't want critters getting them...