How much of the day do they spend in the coop?

[luvmyEs]

I'm just curious if this is normal or not. My chickens (2 silkies, 1 RIR, 1 unknown) have to be forced out of the coop everyday. They will stay out for an hour and then get back in the coop. They have 6 acres they could roam around on, but won't leave the coop! I put plenty of food and water outside of the coop to encourage them too. Thoughts?

 

[Ole rooster]

Mine come out in the morning and back to lay and roost at night. That's it. All day outside.

 

[audrey02026]

How old are they? I let mine free range during the day but when they were young I left them in the coop for a week so they knew it was home. After that I opened the door everyday and they did venture out eventually but stayed very close and didn't stay out too long. Now they are 25 weeks and can't wait until I open the door to let them out! They don't go back in unless it's to lay or for the night.

 

[luvmyEs]

I was told they were a little over a year old.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine come out in the morning and back to lay and roost at night. That's it. All day outside.

Mine too. Unless it's blowing hard rain or snow, they are outside except to eat and lay eggs.

How long have you had them? If you haven't had them long, it will take a few weeks for them to adjust to their new surroundings.

 

[6RandomBrownLayers]

What is the weather like? If there is snow on the ground mine do a similar thing.

 

[azygous]

I have fifteen hens and two roosters. All of the hens spend every daylight minute out in their run except when inside laying an egg. This is their habit even on days when the temperature, like today, is well below freezing. I have two "elderly" hens who may spend an hour or two in the mornings sunning themselves in the coop window, but then they're both back outside again for the rest of the day until it's time to roost for the night.

Both roosters will spend all day keeping an eye on the hens, no matter how cold and miserable it is.

It's not like they have no choice. My chickens are real outdoor junkies, kind of like me. I'm outside most of the day, too, even when it's miserable and below freezing. If I could speak for the chickens as to why they prefer to be outdoors rather than in their warm, cozy coop, I'd say it's for the same reason why I'm outdoors instead of in my warm, cozy house - it's just more fun to be outdoors.

I can't imagine why chickens might prefer to stay cooped up. Same goes for people.

 

[Blondiechic]

My big girls are like the others said theirs are and out all day - they put themselves to bed at dusk and wait for me in the morning to let them out for breakfast.
However! my Silkies are quite a different story - they come out, go back in, sit around, pop back out but don't stray far and seem quite happy - I sometimes get fed up and pick them up and them out because its a lovely day but have decided that Silkies just maybe aren't as active as the others?

 

[Mahonri]

Mine stay in the coop for much of the day when it's 115 outside.

or if they see a hawk or airplane (fake hawk)... or a cat on the back wall...

ah my chickens are fickle... but at this time of year, most of them spend most of the time outside all day long in the run.

 

[kari_dawn]

Mine don't hang out in the coop either....they run 15 feet to the right, and hang out underneath the 51 Chevy for most of the day

Im okay with that...the amount of hawks this year has been rediculous!