Littles won't stay in the coop.

[hen1415]

That's progress, but ... if she is "IN" the pop door, does that mean it stays open all night? Does that mean the coop - and the chickens - is accessible to predators?

The pop door just leads from the coop out to the run. It's well fortified and nothing can get in. The run is also wrapped in clear plastic so no direct wind.

 

[Barb Root Hinkkanen]

We have three littles that we've had since July, they are a Salmon Faverolles, a Cuckoo Marans, and a Sapphire Gem. They are fully integrated with our three bigs, a 10 yo Buff Orpington, an 8 year old Jersey Giant, and a 1 year old Speckled Sussex. They all get along well. The Jersey Giant will occasionally chase the littles away from treats, but they are all getting along normally.

The problem is, the littles want to roost out in the run. They have a 4.5 foot roost in the coop that is unused by the bigs, who have their own roost. If I put them up in the coop at night, the Sapphire Gem will hop on the bigs' roost, but the Faverolles and Marans will make their way to the pop door or back outside. We live in MN and are heading into a cold snap (like below zero F) and I worry about them. The run is covered in plastic so there is no wind. The coop doesn't have heat, but it stays about 10 degrees warmer than outside.

I hate to move the littles after they've settled because they're all warm and puffy and I feel bad putting them inside on a cold roost. Do you think they are ok being outside? I've never had chickens that do this! They will go in the coop during the day. The Sapphire Gem started laying last week and she is always up there piddling around in the nest. I am just worried that they're going to freeze.

Any information from cold weather keepers would be much appreciated.
Jen

I didn't realize until recently than some bantams do not like a tall roost and prefer a roost about 18-24" high.