Hens Stopped Going in Coop Suddenly

[Lintltj5]

So Ive been searching the forums and web for some explanations and figured Id post here. A few days ago, my chickens suddenly stopped going into their coop at night to roost.
Exactly a year ago I bought 4 chickens off Craigslist. Angela, Maggie, Nellie, and Cluck. Nellie and Cluck have since passed away and have been replaced by Daisy and about 2 weeks ago Pearl.

Maggie is the alpha. When it starts to get dark she starts to walk to the coop and the others follow. She has her spot on the roost right next to the wall. Angela ALWAYS sleeps right by her side. Daisy was one of two pullets we got in june. She just started laying about 3 weeks ago. She never really followed Maggie and Angela into the coop and would always get caught roosting in the yard somewhere. I would get her and put her in the coop at night, until finally she started going in on her own. Pearl is brand new. Shes only 14 weeks, but was eager to be accepted. She boldly just started following the others, even though they were working her into the pecking order. Shes small and lowest on the totem.
So about 3 nights ago I, for some strange reason, thought to check on the chickens. I went out and found only Pearl in the coop. After some looking around I found Angela and Daisy on the neighbors fence, and Maggie out of the pen entirely and up on our deck. Maggie being out was very strange, she always is first in and has always gone in for the past year. I thought it was weird, but since shes the alpah I figured thats why the others didnt follow.

The next night, I found Daisy again on the neigbors fence, Angela jumping and trying to get up there, Pearl on a branch in a lilac bush, and Maggie on my burn barrel. This time, I reclipped their wings and cut down or moved anything they could be using to fly up on the fence or lilac.

Tonight, I watched them at dusk and they were all super agitated. Pacing all around the run, going in the coop then out, in then out. They were looking up to the fence the whole time, trying to figure a way up. Finally I made Maggie go in the coop, and the others followed. But Angela, who normally follows and jumps right onto the roost, would not go up to roost. She actually did that the night before as well. She sat on the floor of the coop, under Maggie, but would not go onto it. The roost in only 1 1/2 ft off the floor of the raised coop. This is what I find really strange. Tonight Pearl was in Angelas spot. Why would this happen? Pearl is low hen on the totem pole and about 4 times smaller than Angela. No way Angela gives up her spot to her.

So, Im curious why they all of a sudden stopped going in, and why Angela all of a sudden will not go to her normal spot that she has had for the past year. Also, again tonight I found that Daisy left the coop and was able to fly up on the run fence, hilariously trying to steady herself on the chicken wire. I put her in the coop and she went on the floor next to Anglea.

The coop location hasnt changed, I see no predators or evidence of them, I change the bedding regularly. What gives on the two issues?

 

[Spartan22]

Could be mites? Lice? Snake? In the coop? Or Pearl is a bully?

 

[twilightgecko]

other than being spooked by a predator near the coop, i am baffled.. the coop is their safe spot.. most hens feel safe in the coop, roosting.. curious to see what others will say.. i had a barred rock that when young wanted to roost in the tree above the coop.. she stopped that after 2 nights of getting the garden hose.. not too literally.. after just a little spritz, she learned the sound of the hose.. and quickly ran into the coop..

 

[Lintltj5]

Lol, trust me, Pearl is far from a bully. Ive sat for 45 minutes to watch after ive put them in and she gets some rough treatment.
I do close it up and there is no way a pred is coming in. I did hear a cat meowing pretty loud tonight. Could a sound of a possible predator scare them?
Ive been thinking that it has to be a predator, because, as you said they are trying to get up higher. Im perplexed at that, but baffled at the whole Angela suddenly not wanting to roost next to Maggie.

 

[pineapple416]

I am guessing that it is either a predator that is scaring them or it is mites/lice. Lot's of the time when chickens stop roosting in their coop it is because they are being bitten at night by mites/lice. Even if this isn't the case for sure, I would strongly recommend using mite/lice powder on the chickens and dusting their coop. This is available at most feed stores if you don't already have some. If it is a predator I would recommend putting them in their coop as soon as the sun starts to set so nobody gets attacked.
The reason they might not be roosting if it is a predator is because chickens really have no defense mechanism besides flying away and hiding. Some chickens will stay in the same place for days after a predator scare if you don't find them. We had this happen before from what we think was a cat scaring them. We came home and the chickens had flew on fences and in the neighbor yard and one was frozen beneath a bush.
If it is a cat I would recommend trying to discourage it from coming to your yard, and maybe trying to live trap and relocate it if it is not a neighbors pet. Cats are not a serious predator threat but could try to go after small or young chickens so be especially careful with pullets and chicks if the problem continues in the future. I also recommend not clipping their wings so they will be able to fly away if it is a predator problem.
Good luck I hope this problem can be solved soon!

 

[Folly's place]

I agree on all counts here. Look hard for mites and lice, and maybe spray the coop with permethrin regardless. Look for any signs of rodent poo, or anything in or around the coop. Make sure it's really safe and well ventilated. Pictures would be good! Check under things out there!
You will need to lock them in every night for a while to reset normal behavior. There must have been a scare, or something, and as long as it's now fine, they will be safer in their coop at night. Mary

 

[Lintltj5]

Ill try the lice powder, but Im thinking predator. Ill just lock them in earlier.
The problem with not clipping their wings is that I live in the city, and for a while, unbeknownst to me, the whole flock was out grazing everyday at an apartment complex a few houses down. I was at work, so by the time id get back, the chickens would be back in the yard. When I finally found out, I watched and found they were just flying over the fence.
Any thoughts on Angela now roosting on the floor and not next to Maggie?

 

[Folly's place]

Again, get out there at night with a flashlight, and look for mites and lice. Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be an attempt to ditch the new comer by surrendering the territory to her, just a thought.

 

[Dayrel]

Interesting. I have a similar problem. My chickens had been very well trained to get into their coop when the sun went down and then their automatic door would close. Worked very well until summer solstice when sundown started happening earlier each night.

Now, I find them out on the run's roost bar (right side) each evening. The girls have totally lost their earlier behavior to get into the coop at night around sundown. They seem content on that roost, but the coop is better protected, so I want them in there. Given the description above, I was thinking maybe a mite/lice problem, but they have no problem going in this same coop during the day to lay eggs or sometimes just to hang out.

I'll still check for lice/mites tomorrow. Thoughts?