My girls are getting stuck in the automatic door D:

[Guadaupe]

Hi everyone!
I'm having a weird problem (I found a thread about it but not many comments on the issue).
I have been having one of my girls inside of my house for 2 weeks now, and the other two are living in their coop, as always. They come out every morning for pasture and then i take them out again at noon or afternoon, whenever i have some time and can be around them.
The thing is that since last monday, every night of the past week, one of them (i really can't tell if it has been the same one every night bc it's dark and i can't recognize their butts lol, they're all black) gets stuck in the door. Sometimes leaving the other one outside, and sometimes she just stands there while the other one is already in.
First I thought that i should adjust the time (I'm from Argentina, we are finishing winter so sun starts falling later every day); but it didn't work.
They have been living in the coop since February and have been successfully using the door since March. I haven't changed anything inside of the coop, it has ventilation for the airflow and also some windows to let some light in. They have roosting bars. I haven't had any pests or unwanted animal inside, or anything traumatic happened to them (that i know lol) inside of the coop.
The one stuck at the door usually makes it very difficult to me to push her inside, she grabs the entrance with her feet very tight and doesnt allow me to move her almost. The first night I thought 'maybe she was surprised by the door and she got scared bc she is stuck' but the rest of the days it feels like she/they almost stay there waiting for the door to close.

Idk what other details might be important but the thing is, has anybody ever have this problem? Did you find a way to fix it? Thanks!!!

 

[thecatumbrella]

How far is the roosting area from the door? It's possible she thinks she "made it" in, but is clearly way off the mark! I'd start retraining them by placing each one on the roost at the night. Make sure it's dark when you do so, otherwise there's a risk of them jumping down. You should (hopefully) see results within a few days.

 

[Blue Andalusian]

Hi everyone!
I'm having a weird problem (I found a thread about it but not many comments on the issue).
I have been having one of my girls inside of my house for 2 weeks now, and the other two are living in their coop, as always. They come out every morning for pasture and then i take them out again at noon or afternoon, whenever i have some time and can be around them.
The thing is that since last monday, every night of the past week, one of them (i really can't tell if it has been the same one every night bc it's dark and i can't recognize their butts lol, they're all black) gets stuck in the door. Sometimes leaving the other one outside, and sometimes she just stands there while the other one is already in.
First I thought that i should adjust the time (I'm from Argentina, we are finishing winter so sun starts falling later every day); but it didn't work.
They have been living in the coop since February and have been successfully using the door since March. I haven't changed anything inside of the coop, it has ventilation for the airflow and also some windows to let some light in. They have roosting bars. I haven't had any pests or unwanted animal inside, or anything traumatic happened to them (that i know lol) inside of the coop.
The one stuck at the door usually makes it very difficult to me to push her inside, she grabs the entrance with her feet very tight and doesnt allow me to move her almost. The first night I thought 'maybe she was surprised by the door and she got scared bc she is stuck' but the rest of the days it feels like she/they almost stay there waiting for the door to close.

Idk what other details might be important but the thing is, has anybody ever have this problem? Did you find a way to fix it? Thanks!!!

as thecatumbrella sai. Retraining them by Putting them on the Roost, is a Great way. I have some little chicks, an i have been oing it. Some are slowly Roosting on the Roosts now

 

[Guadaupe]

How far is the roosting area from the door? It's possible she thinks she "made it" in, but is clearly way off the mark! I'd start retraining them by placing each one on the roost at the night. Make sure it's dark when you do so, otherwise there's a risk of them jumping down. You should (hopefully) see results within a few days.

Hi!
So the coop door is centered at the front, and they have all the way to the right wall, their roosting bars. Probably not more than 3 feet from the door (the enclosed part of the coop is 6,5x6,5 feet).

But this is a great idea. I actually did this yesterday just to avoid them from doing it, and i closed the door manually after putting them inside. Do you think I should be manually closing before putting them in? Or just leave the door do its job? (one of the days she was standing with her head out, like if she was trying to get out )

 

[thecatumbrella]

Hi!
So the coop door is centered at the front, and they have all the way to the right wall, their roosting bars. Probably not more than 3 feet from the door (the enclosed part of the coop is 6,5x6,5 feet).

But this is a great idea. I actually did this yesterday just to avoid them from doing it, and i closed the door manually after putting them inside. Do you think I should be manually closing before putting them in? Or just leave the door do its job? (one of the days she was standing with her head out, like if she was trying to get out )

I would close the door after getting them situated on the roosts (or even before if that makes the coop area darker). Either way, I wouldn't leave the door to close on its own later.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Maybe try a low-watt battery light inside the coop. I saw that you have windows, but maybe some ambient light (streetlight, neighbors’ lights) is no longer there. You’re in Argentina? I don’t know how far south you are - you might not have a lot of variance in your seasonal light/ day length.

 

[Guadaupe]

Maybe try a low-watt battery light inside the coop. I saw that you have windows, but maybe some ambient light (streetlight, neighbors’ lights) is no longer there. You’re in Argentina? I don’t know how far south you are - you might not have a lot of variance in your seasonal light/ day length.

Well, the neighbors are building a wall that probably takes some light from one of their ventilations. I never thought that that could affect their sleep schedule . I live in Buenos Aires (Center of the country) and light difference its not major, but it does change during seasons: In summer sun goes up at around 6AM (winter 8AM) and goes down at around 8:45PM (winter around 6:30PM).

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Well, the neighbors are building a wall that probably takes some light from one of their ventilations. I never thought that that could affect their sleep schedule . I live in Buenos Aires (Center of the country) and light difference its not major, but it does change during seasons: In summer sun goes up at around 6AM (winter 8AM) and goes down at around 8:45PM (winter around 6:30PM).

It’s not so much sleep schedule for this. It’s that maybe the chicken(s) think it’s too dark and maybe a bit scary inside the dark coop, so they’re not comfortable entering and looking for the roost.

 

[Guadaupe]

It’s not so much sleep schedule for this. It’s that maybe the chicken(s) think it’s too dark and maybe a bit scary inside the dark coop, so they’re not comfortable entering and looking for the roost.

Thanks! I'm gonna check how i can add some light there (as I dont have an electricity line outside and the solar lights i tried failed terribly). This is great insight. thank you

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thanks! I'm gonna check how i can add some light there (as I dont have an electricity line outside and the solar lights i tried failed terribly). This is great insight. thank you

Good luck! Even something like a battery powered nightlight should work - it doesn’t have to be bright. In fact, it’s better to be quite dim.