Need help! Hens not going in coop at night!

[BBSnavely]

I need help, I'm not sure what's going on but my hens have stopped going in the coop at night.

At 1st I wondered if maybe our top hen was keeping them out. But today her and 2 others were still out.

We have an Omelet automatic door and currently have it set to close about 45 minutes after sundown. As the sun has started to set earlier, I've adjusted the time as needed

Usually, some chickens make it in each night, but there's always 2 or 3 that are still out when I check.

I paid too much for this door to still be letting chickens in each night...

Suggestions?

 

[WallyG74]

That’s quite the dilemma. Maybe adjust the time a little later after sunset. I’m assuming when you find some still out that they willingly go on inside when you check on them?

 

[chickenlittle21]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/training-chickens-to-coop-at-night.75895/

 

[DobieLover]

I need help, I'm not sure what's going on but my hens have stopped going in the coop at night.

At 1st I wondered if maybe our top hen was keeping them out. But today her and 2 others were still out.

We have an Omelet automatic door and currently have it set to close about 45 minutes after sundown. As the sun has started to set earlier, I've adjusted the time as needed

Usually, some chickens make it in each night, but there's always 2 or 3 that are still out when I check.

I paid too much for this door to still be letting chickens in each night...

Suggestions?

View attachment 2373725

Can you post pictures of the entire coop and setup?
How many birds do you have?
Had they put themselves up each night prior to you installing the door?

 

[BBSnavely]

Can you post pictures of the entire coop and setup?
How many birds do you have?
Had they put themselves up each night prior to you installing the door?

This is an old pic, birds are full size now. 5 hens. 2 roosts inside. And yes, they've been consistently putting themselves away each night for the entire summer.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I need help, I'm not sure what's going on but my hens have stopped going in the coop at night.

At 1st I wondered if maybe our top hen was keeping them out. But today her and 2 others were still out.

We have an Omelet automatic door and currently have it set to close about 45 minutes after sundown. As the sun has started to set earlier, I've adjusted the time as needed

Usually, some chickens make it in each night, but there's always 2 or 3 that are still out when I check.

I paid too much for this door to still be letting chickens in each night...

Suggestions?

View attachment 2373725

I had the same problem with my pullets. I’d say it’s all about just restraining them. The magic that helped us, was putting them on the roosts every night ourselves, for a week, and then, putting a light on a timer (I used a battery powered fake candle on a timer) in the doorway to encourage them to come in. The light was set to turn on at 6:00 and turned off at 9:30. This encouraged them to go in and it worked! After a while, we weaned them off of the candle.

quick question, where are they sleeping instead of the coop? Mine were roosting on the roof of the coop. If you don’t know, look for the droppings lol

 

[aart]

I used a battery powered fake candle on a timer

Got a link to these, @CHlCKEN , I would love to have one!

 

[CHlCKEN]

Got a link to these, @CHlCKEN , I would love to have one!

Sure! I’ll go find a link for you

 

[DobieLover]

This is an old pic, birds are full size now. 5 hens. 2 roosts inside. And yes, they've been consistently putting themselves away each night for the entire summer.
View attachment 2373892

Is that a 4'x4' floor area?
It seems that the flock was putting themselves up when they were smaller and now that they are full size they aren't. It may just be coinciding with the door.
2 cockerels with 5 pullets may also a contributing factor as well as the size of the coop being too small for 7 birds.
You are in NY. Where will your flock go when it looks like this?

 

[CHlCKEN]

Here @aart I have the tea candle kind but you can buy any kind. I think it’s probably set more like from 6:00 to 9:00. I just typed it wrong, but mine has a 3 hour timer while this one only has an 18 and a 6 (mine is 3 and something)

Anyway, if your afraid they will Peck it to death you can stick it in a mason jar. It still works https://www.amazon.com/eLander-Ligh...eywords=candle+on+timer&qid=1602762065&sr=8-6