My chickens are almost a year old. They are suddenly not roosting in the coop at night and missing the window for the automatic door. It’s been super cold ,I have a heat lamp in the coop keeping about 20- 30 degrees warmer at night. Also one of them is beginning to get a bald spot above the tail feathers. What do I do or stop doing?
I’m new to chickens having issues
- Thread starter FMEO
- Start date
Welcome to BYC!
Chickens normally don't like light during the night, it can make them very stressed. I recommend getting a heater that doesn't have a light, such as Sweeter heaters. I have the side mount and hanging ones, both work great!
There could also be a small animal scaring them and causing them to not roost there.
As for the one missing tail feathers, she could either be getting pecked at or starting to molt. If you have a rooster that may also be the cause.
Chickens normally don't like light during the night, it can make them very stressed. I recommend getting a heater that doesn't have a light, such as Sweeter heaters. I have the side mount and hanging ones, both work great!
There could also be a small animal scaring them and causing them to not roost there.
As for the one missing tail feathers, she could either be getting pecked at or starting to molt. If you have a rooster that may also be the cause.
Hello! Welcome to BYC! 
Hiya, and welcome to BYC! 
Missing feathers could be from a few reasons; molting, feather picking from overcrowding or lack of protein, mites, or rooster abuse. You could post more details of it in our Emergency Forum if you like.
We're glad you're here!
Missing feathers could be from a few reasons; molting, feather picking from overcrowding or lack of protein, mites, or rooster abuse. You could post more details of it in our Emergency Forum if you like.
We're glad you're here!
Where do you live? How cold is it? Do the chickens really need so much extra warmth?
Did you check on parasites?
Is there a chickenwho is bullying the others?
How big is the coop? And how much room is there left/right and above the chickens if they roost And do you have much ventilation?
Does the coop smell badly or okay in the morning?
Can they go out after sunrise? Or do you open the coop after a certain time?
In other words, we need much more info to find the cause. Photos are very helpful too.
Did you check on parasites?
Is there a chickenwho is bullying the others?
How big is the coop? And how much room is there left/right and above the chickens if they roost And do you have much ventilation?
Does the coop smell badly or okay in the morning?
Can they go out after sunrise? Or do you open the coop after a certain time?
In other words, we need much more info to find the cause. Photos are very helpful too.
Hi, welcome to BYC! Where is the ventilation in relation to the roosts? If wind is blowing directly on them while roosting, they won't roost there. I made that mistake when I had my coop built and had to close off the nice big window I'd had built! This is how we learn. 
Welcome to BYC! If they stopped going into the coop when you started using the heat lamp I would think that might be the issue. I hope you can figure it out. Good luck!
Welcome to BYC!
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