No coop for you!?

[HarrounHomestead]

Hello BYC!

I have 4 white chicks (14 weeks old) that will not go into the coop at night. I have 9 others that go in no problem and have for about 5 weeks now. The 4 white chicks are 2 silkies and 2 sultans. 1 sultan is a male. The other 3 we believe are female. I had been opening the door on the side of the coop that lets them out of the run and picking them up and putting them into the coop at night. The run gate is closed at night. Should I keep putting them in at night or should I leave them under the coop overhang? They are around where the blue circle is in the back left corner under the coop at night.

 

[azygous]

Have you lingered after putting these chicks into the coop at night to see what's happening to them? Learning to put themselves into the coop at night is one hurdle, but if they are being mercilessly bullied, that would be a reason for them not wanting to be in there. In fact, it's the most common reason.

I've found that perch dividers can help a lot to keep the peace at roosting time.

 

[HarrounHomestead]

Have you lingered after putting these chicks into the coop at night to see what's happening to them? Learning to put themselves into the coop at night is one hurdle, but if they are being mercilessly bullied, that would be a reason for them not wanting to be in there. In fact, it's the most common reason.

I've found that perch dividers can help a lot to keep the peace at roosting time.View attachment 3874793

I do remember once hearing some screeching after I was almost back to the house. I guess maybe it may be time to start figuring out what roosters (we have 7 from our batch of 13 chicks) need to go?

Our perches are perpendicular to the shelves. Usually the 9 that go into the coop are all on the top area and I put the 4 white ones on the bottom area.

Thanks,
Frank

 

[aart]

I have 4 white chicks (14 weeks old) that will not go into the coop at night. I have 9 others that go in no problem and have for about 5 weeks now. The 4 white chicks are 2 silkies and 2 sultans. 1 sultan is a male. The other 3 we believe are female.

So 13 birds all 14 weeks old?
Did they grow up together...or were some added at a later time?

How big is that coop, how long are the roosts?
Pics of inside coop showing roosts, please?

 

[HarrounHomestead]

So 13 birds all 14 weeks old?
Did they grow up together...or were some added at a later time?

How big is that coop, how long are the roosts?
Pics of inside coop showing roosts, please?

Yes, they all grew up together and are 14 weeks old. The coop is 4'6" long inside, roosting bars (3) are 3'6" long each. Typically I only see the roosters on the bars near the top area. The top area is 17" wide and they usually lay together. The bottom section is 26" wide (not counting the nesting box area).

Thanks!
Frank

 

[aart]

Yeah, tight space for that many birds.
12" of roost length per bird is a decent rule of thumb.
Roosts look a bit small too.
Minimum of 2" wide is standard.

What is your climate/location?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Unfortunately your set up is not predator proof so you do need to lock the birds in at night. Do those 4 birds actually know how to get in and out of the coop on their own? The ramp might be a little steep for them (and Silkies are a bit... not the most intelligent) is why I'm asking.

7 are confirmed male? Even if they get along now (or they may be tussling once they get inside), I think you're going to have issues down the line with so many plus females in the mix.

I don't see much ventilation in the coop. How hot is it where you're at? A hot, stuffy coop is also a turn off.

 

[HarrounHomestead]

Thanks everyone for your responses/questions!

I live in South Central Texas. Ventilation in the coop is a small window in the back that I have to manually slide a door open for.

I guess to predator proof my coop, I need to get locks for the two top doors? I have hardware cloth all around the coop. On the run, you can see half of it and the other half is underground. Around the coop, it is totally underground and not visible.

It looks like I will be having someone from my church contact me about taking 6 of our roosters, so that will help with the room issue. I had a couple people that responded to a post to help me sex/breed identify the chickens.

As for the silkies/sultans, when I put them in the coop, the come out just fine. Maybe the other 2 are huddling together out of ease so they don't have to go in? I am hoping with removing 6 roosters that maybe I will see a change with that, but we shall see.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I live in South Central Texas. Ventilation in the coop is a small window in the back that I have to manually slide a door open for.

Doesn't it get insanely hot in central TX? Have you gotten a temperature reading inside the coop on a hot day? A more typical Texas coop is open air, which means 1 entire wall or the equivalent thereof is left open or covered with wire mesh.

Recommended ventilation is 1 sq ft per bird 24/7 in moderate climates. Hot climates is more like 2-3 sq ft per bird.

I guess to predator proof my coop, I need to get locks for the two top doors?

It's not just the doors, the bulk of the run is wire with large openings and gaps between panels. So you're susceptible to snakes, weasels, pests like rodents. My run is also not predator proof but the chickens get locked up in the coop at night.

As for the silkies/sultans, when I put them in the coop, the come out just fine.

Can they put themselves in just fine? Most chickens can figure out how to exit a pop door and down a ramp, but going up and in can be a different matter.

I am hoping with removing 6 roosters that maybe I will see a change with that, but we shall see.

Hope that makes a difference but as you said, we shall see.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Another thing I'm wondering is, how late or early are you putting them in the coop? We were manually putting two of our 14-week olds in the coop every night for a week, after everyone else was in bed. ... then one night we were about ten minutes late getting out there to herd/ chase/ put them in, and lo and behold, they had gone to bed on their own! They just wanted to stay up a few minutes longer than the others, the little rascals! They've put themselves to bed ever since.