My chickens don't like my coop! What am I doing wrong?

[123RedBeard]

of course 'gravel' is a wide term

Yup ... many river and creek beds have gravel bottoms ... sand too ...

Too me ... gravel is not just crushed rock ... it has dirt and sand in it too, like a gravel/dirt road ...

 

[Dead Diamonds]

Thanks PirateGirl and everyone else.

Just wondering, but does anyone go coopless, no coop at all? I could keep my coop and just let them sleep wherever they want. They still go inside to use the nesting boxes to lay eggs. Has anyone done this before?

There is a large possum that comes through the yard every once in a while, always around 9pm. Each time, the chickens go nuts and scream. But I don't understand how a possum can be a threat. They are so slow. Does the possum have to sneak up on the chicken while she sleeps?

I also have a very large owl that has a nest atop a power pole next door. He can take them out anytime he wants but he doesn't.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Just wondering, but does anyone go coopless, no coop at all?

There is a large possum that comes through the yard every once in a while, always around 9pm. I also have a very large owl that has a nest atop a power pole next door.

The main reasons to have a coop is for protection from predators and the weather.

Possoms can kill chickens, owls as well. Chickens at night don't tend to move around as they can't see well in the dark, so it makes them easy targets. Predators aren't a problem until they are... the small hawks in my area weren't an issue for over a year until I came home one day to find a hawk eating one of my hens.

 

[Notaneggspurt]

Is this the part you are calling the coop? And is the roost bar the 1" piece of wood (where the green line is)?

 

[Notaneggspurt]

There is a large possum that comes through the yard every once in a while, always around 9pm. Each time, the chickens go nuts and scream.

I'm guessing they've been harassed more than once already. That's probably why they are avoiding going in at night.
http://wildliferemovalusa.com/opossum-diseases.html
If not for your the safety of your chickens I'd recommend having the possum removed for your own health and safety.

 

[123RedBeard]

I'm surprised they are still alive with what you have seen, who knows what you haven't seen ...

It's only a matter of time until they get eaten, if they are not secured every night, and maybe in the daytime too.

 

[aart]

Yup ... many river and creek beds have gravel bottoms ... sand too ...

But there's something under the sand and gravel holding the water.

For the OP's situation it might work if drainage trenches are dug,
provided there is lower land it can flow into,
then cover the area with gravel.

 

[PirateGirl]

My environment, both weather and predators, does not really permit for me to go coop-less. It may work for others if there is a spot on the property the birds can roost at night where they are both protected from the elements as well as any predators. You mentioned not wanting them on your deck so much, so by providing them a more attractive place to hang out at times you may achieve this. You could also look into ideas for building them a freestanding roost. Chickens like to get up high and if you give them a good spot to hang out (day or night) they might take to it. Here are a few photos I grabbed from the internet to give you an idea of what I'm thinking.

 

[123RedBeard]

But there's something under the sand and gravel holding the wate

Actually there is dirt/clay mixed into rock to make the gravel ... go and see how a road is built ...

 

[aart]

Actually there is dirt/clay mixed into rock to make the gravel

Depends on the gravel. NFM.