Morning vs Roost Time

[Col1948]

When I open the coop in the morning around 07:30 it is still a bit dark but the chickens come out and go pecking away in the garden.
I'm in the UK so it starts to get dark around 16:20ish and the chickens make their way themselves to the coop to roost, but it is still a lot lighter for a while, so why don't they stay out that bit later seeing as it is still a lot lighter than when they come out in the morning?

 

[nchls school]

When I open the coop in the morning around 07:30 it is still a bit dark but the chickens come out and go pecking away in the garden.
I'm in the UK so it starts to get dark around 16:20ish and the chickens make their way themselves to the coop to roost, but it is still a lot lighter for a while, so why don't they stay out that bit later seeing as it is still a lot lighter than when they come out in the morning?

Possibly hunger in the AM and lack of hunger in the PM. I've noticed the same thing here in TN; even coming out in the dark and feeding by yard light.

 

[N F C]

They're early birds and not night owls?

Good question, mine act the same way. They'll go out at the crack of dawn but go roost around 4:30pm.

 

[Aceoky]

Mine do the same actually, I just figured they want to be able to see the roosts well enough when going to roost - they don't need to see the ground as well LOL Probably it's more about getting prime roosting spots IMO

 

[Col1948]

I only have 4 pullets and when they roost they always go in the same order.

 

[Col1948]

Bazaar! I was watching an old episode of Columbo, it was getting dark but it hadn't got long to go so I watched it to the end, by this time it was dark so I go to close up the coop.
I look inside and no chickens, I then looked in the garden and they they were pecking away on the grass, so I went inside for a few minutes and looked again, this time they were all on the roost.
So after watching them for weeks going in early and me making a post about it, tonight they left it till the last minute lol.

 

[N F C]

Bazaar! I was watching an old episode of Columbo, it was getting dark but it hadn't got long to go so I watched it to the end, by this time it was dark so I go to close up the coop.
I look inside and no chickens, I then looked in the garden and they they were pecking away on the grass, so I went inside for a few minutes and looked again, this time they were all on the roost.
So after watching them for weeks going in early and me making a post about it, tonight they left it till the last minute lol.

Little rascals...they like to keep us guessing, don't they!