I have five hens that are about two years old. For 18 months (or so), if I let them free range during the day they would always return to the coop at night. About 6 months ago, I noticed they would start spending the night on the railing on my back deck. After a few days of doing this, I decided: a. it wasn't safe for them; and b. they were making a mess of my deck (droppings), so I stopped free ranging them (or coerced them into the coop with treats at night). There was a period of about a month that I didn't let them out of the coop at all, as I was hoping they would re-learn to go in the hen house at night. I recently let them out again, and to my dismay, they would spend the night on the deck instead. Is there anything I can do to prevent this (other than coercing them into the coop every day)? I really don't have the time to do that, and don't want to lose any to preds, or have my back deck a mess - but I also prefer them to free range then be in the coop all of the time. Suggestions? Thanks.
