It's 34 degrees and my chickens won't go in the coop.

[Melky]

I think both proper spacing are needed and training as mentioned. 4 sq ft per bird in coop and 10 sq ft per bird in run is recommended. Train them to go in st night. Old habits can be hard to break. I trained mine when young with crumble or dried mealworms. Whatever the most favorite treat is. I had to do this nightly for a week then they just started taking themselves in and weaned away the treats. Occasionally I had to pick up a straggler and put in but rarely. Mine go in voluntarily the coop at night right at about sundown. I hang a solar lantern on coop door near window in outside to provide small amount of lighting for them. If you set a routine they typically follow. I just check on mine in am during the day and at night. So far tolerating cold. My coop is winterized with plastic taped over windows some top ventilation and a tarp to keep rain and snow or frost off. I keep a thermometer in coop to watch temperatures and humidity. Ideally poultry houses keep about 60-70% humidity and just make sure birds tolerate temps with no sign of illness or frostbite. I put about 6 inches of dry leaves in run. I keep pine mulch in coop clean and dry. I’m waiting for local planning commission for approval or ordinances in putting in a shed that will double as storage and coop. I’ve been to the 20s so far and birds doing ok. Just have to make sure have fresh water not frozen. Daily food intake. They should do fine. As my temps drop to teens, I will be locking in the coop at night and will let out to run in am to feed. The door will be left open for them to go in as they choose during the day. So far no frost in run. Mine is roofed like coop. My birds still enjoy being out in run or yard during the day. As the weather gets colder your birds will acclimate by increasing their feathering or down to accommodate the temps.

 

[ehoneybee]

Which(how many) birds spent the whole winter in which coop? Just in the coop, or the coop and tiny attached run??

Each coop days it's good for 6-8 birds so they have plenty of room. The new younger hens are the ones who've never been in a coop and the 3 older ones go willingly each night inside every night. Only in winter do I close the coop door but I always leave their run doors open and both coops open into a large run (not predator proof).
So are any of the birds going into their coop?
3 and 4 in those tiny coops may still be too crowded(and those coops usually lack good ventilation) to be comfortable and why they are avoiding going in there...might only get worse as the weather gets worse.

 

[ehoneybee]

The coops hold 6-8 birds so they have plenty of room. Both coops are good for winter. Had no problems over winter last year. I close the coop doors in winter but keep the run doors open to the big run most of the year. I guess I'll just have to manually put them in each night when it starts getting really cold. Right now they roost on the other coop, which I also don't like because they poop all over it. I plan to cover the run this winter, so they can use it, just thought they would go inside if it got too cold (maybe they would, hadn't gotten cold enough maybe). I also took down a roosting bar inside their attached run to persuade them to roost inside but I'll put that back up so at least they'll stay off the coop.

 

[jthornton]

My neighbor has some of her flock that roost in the trees all year round so cold is not an issue to them but having a safe place to roost is. Height = Safe to a chicken... also chickens vote with their feet, if they don't like a place they find another one.

JT

 

[AlleysChicks]

My coop has 3 bars. 2 are high and at the same level and the other is about a foot lower because I had some fatties sleeping in the nest boxes.

 

[aart]

Each coop days it's good for 6-8 birds so they have plenty of room.

The manufacturer says it's good for so many birds...but those population numbers are always underestimated for reality, and you are seeing the results.

I'm sorry, but your birds are telling you the coops are too small(and probably under ventilated), and we are trying to help translate their language(behaviors) so you understand....keeping them from roosting on the coop, will not solve the space problem.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Can you post a pic of your coop and maybe we could help you improve the design so your birds sleep inside?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Okay process of elimination. If the OP feels that the size of the coop is not the problem there could be something IN the coop that’s spooking them. Mites?
It really doesn’t take much for them to get spooked. They’re trying to tell you something. Gotta figure out what it is.

 

[ehoneybee]

My neighbor has some of her flock that roost in the trees all year round so cold is not an issue to them but having a safe place to roost is. Height = Safe to a chicken... also chickens vote with their feet, if they don't like a place they find another one.

JT

Really? I keep reading about making sure coops are insulated and ventilated and how it's a delicate balance and you're telling me they can just roost in the trees? Lol

 

[ehoneybee]

The manufacturer says it's good for so many birds...but those population numbers are always underestimated for reality, and you are seeing the results.

I'm sorry, but your birds are telling you the coops are too small(and probably under ventilated), and we are trying to help translate their language(behaviors) so you understand....keeping them from roosting on the coop, will not solve the space problem.

Normally I'd agree with you but I really think it's because they are used to sleeping in a big barn wherever they can and are not used to an enclosed space (that is plenty roomy for 4 chickens). The other 3 sleep just fine in the other coop because they've always had one.