need advice! Chickens all of a sudden will not go in coop!

hippychickster

In the Brooder
7 Years
Mar 13, 2012
56
4
36
My chickens were all going inside the coop like clockwork. Some were sleeping in the nesting boxes but we closed them off now at night. They were still going inside after that too.

On July 4th (fireworks and extreme heat) 3 of them will not go in the coop. They sit on top of each other at the top of the stairs at the opening. I'm suspecting these are the same 3 that were sleeping in the nesting boxes.

I thought at first it might be the heat but last night it was cool and they did the same thing. I put them all inside but don't want this to be a habit? I've put them on the roost and they will stay there if I do that but they were doing this before.

Do you think it is because of the fireworks? It was like a battle zone for the entire week. Our Govenor made all fireworks legal and so everyone took full advantage of that. My dog wouldn't even go outside the next morning to go the to bathroom!! :)

Anyway, any advice?

Thanks so much in advance for your help!
 
You may have to lock them in the coop for a couple of days if they got scared in there. I had a feral cat in my coop last month and had the same problem with some of my girls not wanting to go in at night. A couple of days of lock down cured them.
 
Do you think it is because of the fireworks? It was like a battle zone for the entire week. Our Govenor made all fireworks legal and so everyone took full advantage of that. My dog wouldn't even go outside the next morning to go the to bathroom!! :)
Same here RE the darn fireworks, thanks to the new law it was worse than ever. My poor dogs. However with my chickens it was the opposite - always, 2 would put themselves to bed at dusk and 2 had to be forced. The 4th was the first night they all went to bed willingly! I think they were afraid to be alone! They are pretty much afraid of everything.
 
You may have to lock them in the coop for a couple of days if they got scared in there. I had a feral cat in my coop last month and had the same problem with some of my girls not wanting to go in at night. A couple of days of lock down cured them.
What do you mean lock them in for a couple of days? You mean 24/7? What about food and water? Sorry if I sound ignorant I'm just new to this. :)
 
Same here RE the darn fireworks, thanks to the new law it was worse than ever. My poor dogs. However with my chickens it was the opposite - always, 2 would put themselves to bed at dusk and 2 had to be forced. The 4th was the first night they all went to bed willingly! I think they were afraid to be alone! They are pretty much afraid of everything.

I think it was either the fireworks or the heat, however, it's cool again so I think they just got spooked in the coop.

I'm still so angry at that new law! What was he thinking??!!?? There are always people that take things to the extreme. We had people shooting off fireworks for weeks before the 4th until 3 am every night. uggghh I'm so glad it's over. (still have a few here and there)
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom