Not going in coop at night.

[Bettyboop7499]

Not sure how to fix this, or if I need too. I was thinking of getting an auto door, but now the rooster has changed all the hens behaviors. I have a roost tree in the coop that maybe up to 12 can sit on. The rooster has just started getting on it an hour before dark and then not wanting to go in. He's never been on it before as they hens all dominated it before he arrived.

Saturday night we were out until 12:30 and I came home to lock the coop and the roo and two hens are sleeping in the roost tree still. I try and shoo them in and they are like punch drunk. One hen jumped out of my hands and crash into the ground trying to fly. The roo about wobbled up the ramp.

Its bee persistent shooing them in. Last night I go over at 8:40 and 10 minutes past when they should all be in and the roo, 5 RIR hens and 2 Leghorn hens are all roosting outside for the night. Is this summer time camping for chickens? I've never seen chickens not want to go into the coop at night.

Is this nothing or going to be a long term PITA?

You may want to retrain them to the coop. And make the tree in the run lower than that in the coop. Just an idea...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The coop(s) are 150' from the house and no electric over there. I prefer the stink over there as far as walking allows. Maybe I'll try that if I get an auto door. Now I'll need a outside open close button if they keep this stuff up. I think they are on the roost tree out side and comfortable, why bother going in the coop.

Last night the roo went in and only three RIR stayed out. Maybe my constant harassment is slowly changing their new patterns. The roo gets all worked up when the hens start clucking because I can shooing them inside.

LED battery operated lights work for quite a long time, especially if only on for an hour at a time.
If the coop is clean, it shouldn't stink and can be right next to the house. If the smell is so bad you don't want it close to you, why would you want your chickens to have to endure that? An odiferous closed up coop is an environment for disease to thrive.

 

[archeryrob]

I'm not adding a light. Thanks for the idea, but it seems like a lot of hassle for a simple problem. These are farm animals to be trained to me, just like I used to train horses to do what I want.

The roo and were three hens outside tonight. They knew the pain was coming as soon as I gabbed the carabiner to open the door. I harassed them and pushed them into the coop. The pain will continue every night, hence forth, until I get my way. I am in charge and they must submit.

Funny thing, my daughter is having an issue with the rooster biting and kicking her. I told her he doesn't respect you and thinks he is boss. She went out tonight and same thing, screaming and yelling while I am trying to build the second coop. She asked me to pick him up and I went at him deliberately and picked him up and pet him, waved my finger in front of him giving him ample opportunity to bite me if he wished. He will not bite me because, I assume, he knows I am not going to tolerate it.

I think chicken sense strength and fear just like dogs do. Or its the same dynamic.

 

[aart]

These are farm animals to be trained to me, just like I used to train horses to do what I want.

Thus the term 'horse sense'

I think chicken sense strength and fear just like dogs do. Or its the same dynamic.

Indeed. Not many people know that or how to employ it.

 

[Willowspirit]

Now while you are still having problems we used that tiny battery operated light for two nights and the chickens have all gone into the coop unaided.

 

[archeryrob]

The harassment in shooing them in seems to be working. There were none out when my daughter went over to put them in last night.