Is something wrong?

[nachohut]

My coop has an enclosed run with a perch then an enclosed area with nesting boxes and perches that can be shut up. Metal pan below the perches for ease in cleaning. I have dry straw in this area although they are not laying yet. Why don't they go in there?

The few times I have put them in and shut the door, they start such a ruckus! In the morning, they are all sitting right beside the door as if they can't wait to get out.

The coop is on a concrete slab with sand and straw in the bottom so I feel pretty secure letting them stay out, but it will eventually get cold.

Any thoughts?

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Is the perch in the run higher up than the one inside the enclosed coop section? If so they will naturally prefer to roost there.
Wanting to get out of the coop at first light is normal in any coop - as is an inherent distrust of small enclosed spaces. Chickens only like to hide in small spaces when they are laying or brooding, otherwise they are naturally scared of being shut in.
However, they do of course also have instincts to seek shelter and the safety of height at nightfall, but it can take them a while to get used to a coop.

If your run is covered to shelter from the elements, they have no need for a coop in their minds, except for laying.

How big is the enclosed space and it is completely dark in there? What is the ventilation like?

 

[DobieLover]

My coop has an enclosed run with a perch then an enclosed area with nesting boxes and perches that can be shut up. Metal pan below the perches for ease in cleaning. I have dry straw in this area although they are not laying yet. Why don't they go in there?

The few times I have put them in and shut the door, they start such a ruckus! In the morning, they are all sitting right beside the door as if they can't wait to get out.

The coop is on a concrete slab with sand and straw in the bottom so I feel pretty secure letting them stay out, but it will eventually get cold.

Any thoughts?

It sounds like you have a pre-fab.
Can you post pictures of it?
How many chickens do you have and how old are they?
Most of the pre-fabs are grossly undersized for the number of birds they claim to house and usually lack ventilation. Pictures will help determine the problem and potential corrective actions.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do they have a window or when you shut them in is it totally dark?

 

[nachohut]

Yes it is a pre-fab. It says it can hold 12-15 birds but I only have 6. I wanted to give them more room to avoid any problems. There is a 6''x6" window inside for ventilation but it faces the side of my garage. They are approx. 13 weeks old.

 

[Kiki]

Can you post pictures of your whole set up?

Check the inside area at night with a flashlight for mites.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What are the actual measurements of the closed section, not including nest boxes? If you have 6 you'd be looking for about 24 sq ft of space once they're grown, plus maybe 6 sq ft of ventilation and some amount of light (natural or artificial) so they can see to orient themselves once they're inside.

Did you ever lock them into the coop to home them to it?