My chickens are defective

[MAchicken105]

Seriously.

I have six, 6 month(already started to lay just recently) old chickens that prefer being in their coop a lot during the day. I thought as they grew older they would be out more but...no.

They also won't roost. Instead they all try to squish into a nest box for the night. Umm what?!

They have a large, very secure coop with an attached 12x12 secure covered run AND free reign of the back yard when I'm home.

I've tried putting them on the roosts at night...no luck. They have 2x4s bigger side up. I mean, why?!

Putting out wonderful produce etc in their run only to have them go back inside the coop when they are finished eating. They also have fun roosts, and hay in their run etc...plenty of things to keep them busy during the day.

They come out of the coop to eat and drink and if the weather is perfect they will happily spend most of their time in the back yard when supervised. But typically they want to be inside.

When I open the door to see what they are up to they look perfectly happy and don't understand why I'm staring at them pulling my hair out.

There are hawks occasionally but they have plenty of cover and no known predators around. Never have had a scary incident so what the heck ladies?

 

[JudysMuscovy]

Seriously.

I have six, 6 month(already started to lay just recently) old chickens that prefer being in their coop a lot during the day. I thought as they grew older they would be out more but...no.

They also won't roost. Instead they all try to squish into a nest box for the night. Umm what?!

They have a large, very secure coop with an attached 12x12 secure covered run AND free reign of the back yard when I'm home.

I've tried putting them on the roosts at night...no luck. They have 2x4s bigger side up. I mean, why?!

Putting out wonderful produce etc in their run only to have them go back inside the coop when they are finished eating. They also have fun roosts, and hay in their run etc...plenty of things to keep them busy during the day.

They come out of the coop to eat and drink and if the weather is perfect they will happily spend most of their time in the back yard when supervised. But typically they want to be inside.

When I open the door to see what they are up to they look perfectly happy and don't understand why I'm staring at them pulling my hair out.

There are hawks occasionally but they have plenty of cover and no known predators around. Never have had a scary incident so what the heck ladies?

I have some 5 month old that prefer to hangout in the coop also. Not sure why all of the chickens are all the same age too so don't think that there is any bullying going on they have all been from day 1 together

 

[slordaz]

maybe the breed, I don't know, my reds don't like to stay in or protected apparently. Maybe they find the coop more entertaining than outside. But I tend to just let them be as they do have the freedom as long as they don't try to escape the yard. The other flock I had built a nice secure insulated coop and they refused to go in there except when they hatched out, they preferred an open horse stall even in harsh Idaho winters. Don't think they are defective they just like being inside

 

[chickens really]

Chickens run on routine daily....Block off the nest box at night so the learn to roost...Creatures of habit....

 

[Chickiemom25]

have they always had access to the nest boxes? I didn't put mine in till the girls were old enough to start laying so it trained them to use the roosts. Take all but one box out and block that one off so they can only access it during the day to lay.. they should start roosting them.

 

[lazy gardener]

They also won't roost. Instead they all try to squish into a nest box for the night. Umm what?!

They have a large, very secure coop with an attached 12x12 secure covered run AND free reign of the back yard when I'm home.

I've tried putting them on the roosts at night...no luck. They have 2x4s bigger side up. I mean, why?!

They come out of the coop to eat and drink and if the weather is perfect they will happily spend most of their time in the back yard when supervised. But typically they want to be inside.

There are hawks occasionally but they have plenty of cover and no known predators around. Never have had a scary incident so what the heck ladies?

What are the dimensions of your coop? And what breed? If they are silkies, those birds are notorious for pig piling instead of perching. I recommend that you block off the nest boxes every night. You can block them before dark, and then either open them back up before you go to bed, or open them up early in the morning, which ever matches your style. Are the perches higher than your nest boxes???

If staying in the coop is a new development, they could be doing so b/c of the novelty and excitement of the laying experience. With my first flock, when ever one of the BFF gals went to the nest box, the other would go with her, and hang out while she laid her egg, then they'd sing together before going back out to play.

 

[MAchicken105]

They are Ameraucanas, a bantam brahma and a d'uccle. They have been in the same set up right out of the brooder. The coop is 5x5x5, the nest boxes are attached from the outside on the floor and the perches are higher. They haven't had access to the nesting boxes until recently.

I'm inclined to just let them be unless anyone thinks that is a bad idea? They have 2 other nest boxes and only lay in one.

When they didn't have access to the nest boxes they would sleep piled up in a corner. Never stressed or scared, just content to pig pile.

What are the dimensions of your coop? And what breed? If they are silkies, those birds are notorious for pig piling instead of perching. I recommend that you block off the nest boxes every night. You can block them before dark, and then either open them back up before you go to bed, or open them up early in the morning, which ever matches your style. Are the perches higher than your nest boxes???

If staying in the coop is a new development, they could be doing so b/c of the novelty and excitement of the laying experience. With my first flock, when ever one of the BFF gals went to the nest box, the other would go with her, and hang out while she laid her egg, then they'd sing together before going back out to play.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Where is their food and water?

 

[MAchicken105]

Both are outside in their run, they come out to eat and drink and scratch areound but they spend most of the time in the coop unless I'm home and let them roam the yard, and even then sometimes they just go right back to the coop after about an hour or so. Very peculiar.

Where is their food and water?

 

[chickens really]

Normal.....Creatures of Habit