I have 5 RIR that refuse to sleep in the coop. they sit on the window ledge every night and every night I pick them up and take them to the coop. What's their problem? I spent a lot of time and money and the these ungrateful birds refuse to use it. when I got my chickens I got 4 mature Buffs and 5 smaller RIR. the Buffs aren't laying and the RIR mingle with them all day, they just refuse to sleep with them. What's the problem?
I did that with all of them for the first 2weeks. Now it week 4 and those 5 are the only ones with a problem.
Just keep putting them on the roost. Chickens aren't always the brightest. It's possible the others are kicking them off the roost, so they go outside. I have to do the same when I integrate new juvenile birds. The older ones don't let them roost, so I have to put them on the roost after dark until the older hens accept them.
