My five month old BO's wont go in the coop at night or bad weather

[aart]

I'm going to be very blunt, I hope you and the admins forgive me.
That coop is way too small for 5 chickens.....and there is no ventilation......that is why your birds won't roost in the coop
...and I think your birds are red stars or whatever you call red sex-link/hybrid layers in your neck of the woods.

If the fencing there is 2x4 welded wire, it appears the coop is about 2' x 3' x 2'?

It makes a great nesting box, but they need a much larger and taller coop to keep them optimally healthy during a long cold winter.

Space and ventilation is most important in keeping chickens stress free(happy) and healthy.
There are 2 links in my signature to great articles about these aspects of chicken keeping.

 

[Colorado Chick]

I'm going to be very blunt, I hope you and the admins forgive me.
That coop is way too small for 5 chickens.....and there is no ventilation......that is why your birds won't roost in the coop
...and I think your birds are red stars or whatever you call red sex-link/hybrid layers in your neck of the woods.

If the fencing there is 2x4 welded wire, it appears the coop is about 2' x 3' x 2'?

It makes a great nesting box, but they need a much larger and taller coop to keep them optimally healthy during a long cold winter.

Space and ventilation is most important in keeping chickens stress free(happy) and healthy.
There are 2 links in my signature to great articles about these aspects of chicken keeping.

No offense taken. There are only three hens. I am currently adding ventilation to the coop. and i do plan on adding a small roost where they all can comfortably fit inside. I admit that for a first timer i did not purchase the best coop. But none the less, they will be cared for to the best of my ability. I understand the need for ventilation, we used to raise racing pigeons, their needs were considerably more crucial for ventilation than that of chickens. but i do thank you for your advice, it is how i learn.

 

[Colorado Chick]

I noticed in your photos...do you also have a Walker Treeing Coonhound?

Also, are the three gals in the photos? Are you sure they are Buff Orpingtons?

i looked further into pics and i think you are right. another post mentioned that they may be the red sex links. frustrating when you ordered buff orpingtons!!!!!! oh well, i still love them, and they seem to be similar to bo's. I just hope they dont fly over fences, as i live in the city. thanks for your input!!!

 

[aart]

Quote: Ok sorry, not sure where I picked up the 5 from...even with 3 you might have the length needed for roost space but the width and height is not sufficient for the movement needed to turn around let alone jump down from a roost. I strongly encourage you to get a larger coop for roosting and use this one for a nesting box.

 

[7 Biddies]

Ok sorry, not sure where I picked up the 5 from...even with 3 you might have the length needed for roost space but the width and height is not sufficient for the movement needed to turn around let alone jump down from a roost. I strongly encourage you to get a larger coop for roosting and use this one for a nesting box.

If you can't afford a larger coop for them right now, you might want to try using a chain link dog enclosure with a cover over it to keep them dry. Put your current coop in it for a nest box and run a roost width ways that's several feet off the ground. I have a dog house with pine shavings in mine so they can get out of the cold. You could always cut the fencing out of the end, adding larger coop in it later. I'm sure others will have some other workable ideas. But, aart is right; that's nowhere near enough space for them.

 

[mortie]

First I will say that my chickens don't necessarily go into the coop when it rains, or really in any kind of bad weather. They don't seem to mind.

They should go inside at night though, and I am in agreement that they are likely avoiding your coop because it is too small and there is no roost. I am sure they do get the best care you can give them, and I am sure you're very fond of them, but that isn't going to make them want to hang out in a coop they don't like, unfortunately.

I have found that most prefab coops are sadly lacking where it counts and outrageously expensive. After doing hours of research, I built mine just the way I wanted it for cheaper than I would have paid for a lesser store bought coop. I built it with very little help from my husband, too, so it can be done! I would highly suggest that you do a lot of research into what makes a great coop and consider building one. In the end it will probably be easier to just do that than trying to retrofit yours with everything it needs to properly house your girls. When you do that, you can build it up off the ground so your girls can have somewhere to go when it rains. Mine don't even go IN the coop in bad weather, but they will take shelter under it.

I also agree that those are not orpingtons at all, but that's going to work in your favor considering the size of your coop. Orps are big girls! Those chickens are a better fit or that coop.

 

[Acornewell]

I think they look just like my girls did! They are ISA Browns!!!

 

[Colorado Chick]

The problem was solved after i elevated the coop off the ground. I have been adding an enclosed and covered area around their coop so they will have a snow free area in the winter.

 

[Acornewell]

YAY! Happy Chickens and Happy Chicken Mom!!!!!

 

[mtchickengal]

Hi. I have to say they look like Red stars, or a golden sex link. I have 1 golden sex link(look just like the red star.) & 1 buff orp. They are Goldie & Brownie. Brownie lays a large darker brown egg every day since she was 19 weeks old. Goldy started at 21 weeks. Her eggs are a creamy color & quite a bit smaller. She lays about 4-5 eggs a week. She would absolutely love to sit on every ones eggs until they hatch! Brownie drops her egg every morning and doesn't look back! As far as weather goes, Brownie loves to be out in the rain.....actually they all prefer roaming the yard to the coop/run even in less than good weather. Your birds are great for egg laying & entertainment! not good if you ever want to hatch eggs. BO's good for that! Brownie is always the 1st one to the door when I come out...knows there is a chance for treats! She gets most of the grasshoppers I catch for them. oh yeah....I have a variety of 8- 30 week old pullets & 6-14 week old birds(2 roos).