Lazy girls sleep so late!

[JenZazie]

Hello! I have eight 4 month old hens. They have a nice huge run (900 square feet!) attached to their coop with an automatic door that opens at 7:30 am, but they don't come out until noon or even later! I've tried putting a light on a timer that goes on at 7:30, to wake them up since there's no natural sunlight in the coop. I want them to go outside where I don't have to clean the poop up.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, JenZazie, and ! Great to have you in our community! All I can think about your girls not coming out is that something outside scares them. Any predators been hanging around? Mine can't wait to get out in the a.m. to stretch their wings and scratch around. When they're out do they act normally or are they skittish? If their food and water is in the coop I'd move it to the run. They'll go out when they want to eat. Other members might have others ideas but I'm stumped!

 

[JenZazie]

Hello, and thanks! Nothing scary out there- if I go pull one or two down from the roost, they run outside and the other girls follow. I'm pretty sure it's light related, because the coop is so dark. I might need to have a window put in.

 

[redsoxs]

I agree - but the fact that it's dark in the coop should make them storm out into the light when their exit door opens. Sorry I'm not much help.

 

[JenZazie]

Maybe they're just teenagers

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Do they have any trouble flying up to the roost? I'm thinking maybe it looks like a LONG way down and they are afraid in the dark.

 

[JenZazie]

They do seem to make a big deal about getting down... clucking, leaning, then backing up, till one finally makes the jump to the poop board. Maybe they need a ladder!

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello there, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! I suggest you put a few windows in so the coop starts to get light when the sun rises, make the roosts easily accessible, and move their feed and water out to the run. Every morning go out and shoo them into the run and see if that doesn't fix em'! I hope you enjoy BYC as much as I have!!

 

[RedSky1]

Welcome!