More changes in the coop, will a light help?

[alessadry]

I am really having a hard time with my coop and the hypervigilant behavior of my cockerels which influence all the pullets in thinking the coop is a big monster to stay away from.

Last week we installed an automatic door and the roosters got spooked by this novelty and were herding all the pullets away from the coop. Several pullets actually seemed to care less about the changes, but the rooster told them something in their language that it was dangerous. Three pullets ended up sleeping outside on a tree. It took a while for them to get used to the door.

Now that they are doing better and understanding the automatic door is good as it lets them out in the morning to free range, I have to repair a leak in the roof. I had to put tarp this morning, and I am already hearing the cockerels making those panic sounds (like if they just laid an egg) just like last time I installed the door.

Additionally, I have to install some wood panels to make an overhang to prevent the rain from entering the coop when it rains sideways. I don't look forward to how they will react once they see these changes in how the coop looks. I actually dread it.

I am worried if they do the same thing as last time. They have food and water in the coop and hopefully as they get hungry and thirsty they will understand the coop is still a good place to be. I just don't look forward to another night of waiting for them to go inside and getting scratched by thorns to retrieve some pullets that decide to sleep out because they are scared of the changes.

I am thinking to add a red light in the coop tonight to get them in easier tonight, but then is the light another scary change or will it help them get in the coop?

 

[SueT]

How many chickens are there, and how many are cockerels/roosters.....and are all of the boys suspicious?

 

[alessadry]

I have 14 pullets and two cockerels. One cockerel is mostly suspicious, but the other one is very easily influenced by him. They walk together, even sleep together.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have a nightlight in the coop. So they can see to get onto the roosts. I shut off the nightlight when I lockup for the night, because I have a bully that will peck the others during the night.
If I had an automatic door. I would put the nightlight on a timer. GC

 

[alessadry]

Great idea about the timer thing! So far, they are nearby the coop so I guess they are evaluating it and I fed them some black sunflower seeds and so far they have been eating them so I guess they might be comfy enough to sleep there tonight. But if they seem a bit hesitant, I will turn the light on. I was debating on it, because the light on is a change but being that they are attracted to light maybe it would make it more enticing.

 

[azygous]

Yes, you are correct in concluding your chickens are very upset by change. They get very good at punishing you for inflicting it on them, but I don't think I've ever run across a situation where they've successfully conditioned their human keeper into a stress disorder.

While you can expect your chickens to rebel when they discover a change in their environment, they do adjust. Just as you wouldn't give in to a two-year old infant every time they throw a tantrum, neither should you let your chickens' reactions affect the way you need to manage them and maintain their coop and run.

Trust your chickens that they will get used to any new necessary change. As long as you can assure yourself (and them) that it's for their ultimate benefit, you need to ignore the guilt and go have yourself a nice dish of ice cream.

 

[alessadry]

Thanks azygous for the words of encouragement! Just minutes ago they were all in the coop, nicely settled, but the stupid cockerel for some reason freaked out all of a sudden and now they are all scattered around. This cockerel is doing a very bad job, I can see many pullets wanting to sleep in the coop, they care less about the changes, they go inside but he makes those panic sounds and they go out to him or he comes to herd them out. This is very unnerving to watch.

I am NOT going to collect them one by one late at night like I did the other day. I got scratched from thorns, almost killed myself tripping on a log and got drenched from the rain. If they want to sleep out then let it be. My land is fenced by a 5 foot chain link fence so hopefully that will mean less predators. If all the wild rabbits and quails that have been living here survive, they shall too.

We have to seriously consider whether we really want to keep this rooster. So far he has been causing only problems and stress to the whole flock. Today all we did is put the tarp back (they were used to it) and drilled a bit of an overhang. They seemed perfectly fine with it and were all inside the coop until he had a stupid fit for who knows what stupid reason and got all out.

The only fear I have is if by sleeping out on the trees they will decide to make it their new sleeping area and will never use the coop again, can this really happen?

 

[alessadry]

Phewww....My husband went to close the coop door and the automatic door and it looks like they were finally all inside. Seems like the majority of the pullets voted to sleep in the coop and the cockerels were forced to go sleep with them.

Every night when hubby goes to close the coop door, the cockerel is always complaining and wakes up all the pullets who were soundly asleep.