How do I get my chickens to roost in the coop?

[tierneyy]

I came home just after sundown recently to find my chickens dispersed randomly around my yard and one of them was missing. I collected them and locked them in the coop. The next morning I found all that was left of my missing chicken was a skinned head. Some of her feathers were scattered in the coop. It seems a predator came in and snagged one then terrorized the rest. Now my remaining three chickens roost at the side of my fence instead of their coop. Every night I have to move them back to lock them safe.

Is there anyway to train them to automatically roost back to the coop again? It's been almost three weeks now and they're stubborn.

Also, any idea what kind of predator got my chicken? I live in the suburbs of Portland Oregon. I've lost a lot of chickens to raccoons in the past, but this doesn't seem like that kind of attack. It's my understanding they raccoons hunt in the very early mornings, this was around 12am. Also, from my experience they don't eat the chicken, just tear it apart, leaving the body and scattered feathers everywhere. They also usually slaughter all chickens in sight, not just one. (Sorry to be so graphic, just trying to offer as many details as possible.)

 

[lazy gardener]

You're up against a tough issue since the murder apparently occurred in the coop. I had a coon kill most of my flock in the coop many years ago, and the remaining 3 birds never got over the trauma of that. I can't offer you much help. The only suggestion I might have is that you shut them in the coop for a week or so, but it may be too hot to safely do so. More details about your coop and run set up would be helpful. Pics???

 

[tierneyy]

http://cedarcreations.weebly.com/quinta-especial-made-to-order.html

This is my coop, it's a small foot print.

Unfortunately they get super squawky in the mornings these days once the sun comes up so I'll let them out. They're practically roosters. I'm crossing my fingers my neighbors don't start complaining.

I might try locking them in for a while when the weather gets cooler.

 

[StephTheChicken]

I'm completely new to keeping chickens so this isn't based on experience.

I'd scrub and clean the coop out properly to get rid of any smell they associate with what happened (try different bedding even maybe). I'd also move the coop to a different location as far away from the original spot as possible. Maybe rearrange some of the inside of the coop as well if possible like adding another branch for them to roost on?

Basically I'd try to trick them into thinking it's not the murder coop but a totally different one.

Good luck and sorry about your murdered chook

 

[aart]

The next morning I found all that was left of my missing chicken was a skinned head. Some of her feathers were scattered in the coop. It seems a predator came in and snagged one then terrorized the rest.

Did this happen before or after you gathered them and locked them in the coop?
Maybe happened the night before but you didn't see the evidence inside the coop when you locked them up? Trying to figure out how and when the predator got at her and am assuming you free range the birds.

Your coop/run is pretty tiny, even if you have the largest size on the linked webpage, with little to no ventilation. What is your climate/location?

 

[tierneyy]

Did this happen before or after you gathered them and locked them in the coop?
Maybe happened the night before but you didn't see the evidence inside the coop when you locked them up? Trying to figure out how and when the predator got at her and am assuming you free range the birds.

Your coop/run is pretty tiny, even if you have the largest size on the linked webpage, with little to no ventilation. What is your climate/location?

They are free range in my yard during the day, I lock them up at night in the coop. on this day, it was late and everything was dark. When I went to lock them up I found they werent in there, but rather, dispersed randomly throughout my yard (strange behavior.) I found three out of the four of them with a flashlight and put them back in the coop and locked them up. The next morning I found the fourth chickens head, as well as her feathers inside the coop. It seems as though something went in there just after dark, BEFORE I locked them up, snagged one and scared the rest.

I live in Portland Oregon. The pacific northwest, its mostly grey and rain.

 

[aart]

Ah, ok, thank you for explaining.
Sounds like you'll need to keep them confined for awhile...
..and maybe work on a larger secure run.