New to the site with first dumb question!

[TKS]

My Dom's live in a Chicken Tractor that I constructed with info from this site. They are 1 1/2 years old and had a great summer with an average of 4 eggs a day from 3 hens. During the summer they quit going to roost. They continue to go up into the nesting area to lay their eggs but they never go up at night. What could be the issue? I am worried about the cold weather. They just hunker down on the ground at night.
Thanks for the help. I really enjoy this site and have visited it numerous times but never registered until yesterday.

 

[The Chicken People]

and can you post a picture it usually helps..what are you using for a roost?

 

[[email protected]]

I have been trying to get mine to hunker down instead of roost thinking they would be warmer in a tarped area in the straw. But they won't. I'm guessing mine aren't cold enough yet. It doesn't get that cold here. Your's must be cold enough to prefer the warmth of the bedding or ground.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

&

There are no dumb questions.

 

[dwegg]

eggcactly! There are NO dumb questions...I was thinking just the opposite with mine the other day. Wouldn't it be warmer tucked up together in the pine shavings in the corner someowhere rather than sitting up on the roost near the windows?

P.S. I am ADDICTED to this site! Thanks to everyone I have learnt so much.

 

[The Chicken People]

dwegg
Nice people nice place!

 

[Amyable]

TKS!! You're getting 4 eggs a day from 3 hens? Dang!!! (what's your secret?)

 

[TKS]

Amyable..........We could not believe our 1st year egg production from these hens. We fed them regular 16% feed and that is all. We spent most of our summer trying to give away all the surplus eggs from just 3 hens.

I have a 10ft long, 3 ft wide run with a 3x3 enclosed nesting area above the end of the run, just a typical Chicken Tractor. I figured that the hot nights sent them out but they have not gone back to roosting even though there has been some cold weather.