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

[nevrenufcritters]

I agree with others that say your chickens need to be kept protected at night. It appears that you free range them all day which is fine, but I would make sure they are in their pen at dusk. even though Mr owl or Mr possum hasn't gotten them yet, eventually they or one of their predator friends WILL.
For your housing needs and mold issues: Currently you really don't have a coop. You have a small run and a nesting area. You definitely do NOT need a light. I am in Louisiana and I have never had a light in my hen house. I recommend some easy fixes until you can/want to completely start over. First, move it over at least a foot from the area that stays wet a lot, then elevate the whole thing up on cinder blocks or something at least 6-8 Inches. More is better. This will get it off the wet ground and stop the dampness. (They can jump in/out the door-or put a ramp) I would put some kind of wood or solid flooring OVER the hardware cloth bottom. They don't like the way it feels and is hard on their feet. Even a dog crate tray (or 2) would work and is removable for easy cleaning. Then 2 inch of shavings over that. I would put a roost bar across the end of the run furthest from the door. I would also enclose the run area; if not all three sides, at least the back and side area (leaving the door alone) to make a coop. You can leave the height of the side wall a little lower (1 inch) from the roof for ventilation. The roof will keep the rain out, and you have the wire already to prevent rodents and predators. Just put plywood or something over the hardware cloth to enclose it. They will like feeling enclosed at night. A waterer with the chicken nipples really helps prevent water spilling on the shavings and causing a mess with more mold, etc. ( I prefer the side mount kind). Leave the nesting area as is. So basically, elevate it and add walls and bottom.
Next, as so many people have kindly pointed out, be careful with your flock size. More space is always better, and prefabs are not built with standard size chicken comfort in mind. The minimum rule of thumb is about 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run. Since you free range all day you were probably ok with three hens, tight but ok. Keep in mind that on bad stormy days I'm sure they were kept confined in their pen all day. And yes, you will probably have to retrain them once it's done.
I hope this helps some. I recently added a new 24 x 13 ft pen/run to my own coop/run for my little flock of 10 which was already more than adequate. I free range during the summer and now they have a roomy protected area for when I don't. Space and protection are important.

 

[StarChicken]

The cord is for the light bulb in one of the nesting boxes. I stopped using it because I was told it doesn't get cold enough here in Austin, TX (the coldest nights get to maybe just below freezing)

I live in Central Arkansas and my chickens don't get any heat . . . I've been told by many that if you give your chickens heat, and the electricity goes off for an extended period and it's very, very cold, they're not acclimated and could freeze to death, depending on how cold it gets.

BTW, they're doing just fine, even with temps in the lower 20s.

 

[Melky]

I would definitely stick with 4 sq ft per bird in the coop and 10 sq ft per bird in the run. Both need to be housed for weather and predator protection. 19g 1/2 inch hardware cloth for screened areas best for predator protection. For 3-4 birds, need just 1-2 nesting boxes. I would keep a coop for bad weather days and predators. You need a weekly cleaning regime to eliminate odors and pests and remove manure in run. Coop clean every couple days. I use 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water to scrub roosts and flooring nest boxes and wood edging weekly. I use DE and poultry protector sprayed in coop/run to prevent pests. I use fresh herbs to scent nesting boxes right on pine mulch. I would put coop on pavers or wood frame that is weather protected with paint or varnish. I would elevate at least 24 inches and they can use bottom area to roam. I hang feeders in fenced in run that is roofed so protected from weather and I refresh feed daily. I only put out daily amount 1/4 lb per bird per day. I pull feeder at night. Prevents predators or pests. Keep water in hanging waterer or horizontal nipples on a drip line from rain barrel. Cleaner. Need to replace to keep fresh not dirty. Many prefab coops are insufficient space and quality and do not follow industry recommendations for space. I have two roosting bars inside coop necessary as this is how birds sleep and one in run that holds them all. 10-12 inches of roosting space per bird inside and out of coop. My birds use one of the nesting boxes out of 3 so I removed the dividers for extra coop space since they just use one in the back corner. All my eggs go in one nest box. This was after weeks of finding two of them empty. Hope this helps. I would reseed yard twice a year in spring and fall. Place down straw to protect and make flower beds with chicken safe plants. I also enjoy my raised beds for gardening. Love fresh organic home grown produce. You can enjoy grass and flower beds with trees or shrubs in the yard with chickens. Just pick the ones not harmful to them. I choose some that are ok for them to nibble on and they do not scratch it up. I mulch the garden areas. Either trench around the garden areas or put in an attractive edging that matches the home. Good Luck. Best Wishes!

FYI: Hope the pic helps of possibilities even on a small scale of coop and surrounding lawn and gardens. My deck on back of house now composite as wood rots eventually. This prevents replacing and restaining. It keeps a beautiful color. Other option stone patio. Can hose off when needed. Have Fun! Build your garden escape! ​

 

[Melky]

Other option for housing, a shed on a stone patio to keep front area walk friendly when harvesting eggs since wet environment and prevent rotting to base of shed. Can landscape around it attractively.