Not going in coop at night

[LucileIsMyFave]

Hi all! New here and this is my 1st post
We live in Southern California so our weather is pretty mild. With all the 'cold' and rain lately our chickens one by one have not gone to their coop at night and have been roosting on our patio window sill at night. Figuring it is to keep warm. Just wondering what is the best way to get them to return, or if they will stay, back to their coop?

 

[sourland]

Have you checked the coop to make sure there is not a red mite infestation? Any possibility a predator is trying to get into the coop?

 

[aart]

Put them in the coop at night and leave them there for several days.
What might the problem they won't go in...too crowded, not enough ventilation.
Post pics of coop, with dimensions, and how many birds you have.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum from Louisiana. Glad you joined.

It sounds like they were sleeping in the coop but for some reason they stopped doing that and are now sleeping on your patio window sill. To try to figure out why we could use some help. How many do you have, how old are they, how long had they been sleeping in the coop, and information on what the coop and roosts look like. Also information on that patio window sill might help. Why would that window sill be preferred over the coop? Wind might be more important than the temperature. Is it all of them or just some?

Without some detailed knowledge we can't give you suggestions on what you might want to fix or do anything to help solve your problem other than give generic suggestions like lock them in the coop for a few days or lock them in that coop at night until they start going to bed in there.

 

[LucileIsMyFave]

I have 3 girls. Coop is pretty good size. 2 of them molted earlier fall and 1 just finished. The 1 that recently molted was the first to do it. Thought it was because she was being picked on but eventually the other 2 have joined. Think now it was because of the weather. Just concerned on how to get them back.
They are good with the dog. We live in the city, so there are no real predators around. The picture of them is from Christmas. They were enjoying their treat made from cornbread, yogurt, cranberries, Cilantro, and blackberries

 

[LucileIsMyFave]

Have you checked the coop to make sure there is not a red mite infestation? Any possibility a predator is trying to get into the coop?

Gave it a good cleanout last week. Diatomaceous earth dusting, new nesting pads, and a sprinkle of herbs

 

[LucileIsMyFave]

Put them in the coop at night and leave them there for several days.
What might the problem they won't go in...too crowded, not enough ventilation.
Post pics of coop, with dimensions, and how many birds you have.

They are very pampered girls. Maybe feel a little guilty 'cooping' them up
They pretty much have free range of the yard all the time....

 

[nuthatched]

Gave it a good cleanout last week. Diatomaceous earth dusting, new nesting pads, and a sprinkle of herbs

Be very, very careful with diatomaceous earth, it's a respiratory irritant to you (wear a mask next time you clean) and your birds, it also doesn't work that well.

 

[LucileIsMyFave]

Hi, welcome to the forum from Louisiana. Glad you joined.

It sounds like they were sleeping in the coop but for some reason they stopped doing that and are now sleeping on your patio window sill. To try to figure out why we could use some help. How many do you have, how old are they, how long had they been sleeping in the coop, and information on what the coop and roosts look like. Also information on that patio window sill might help. Why would that window sill be preferred over the coop? Wind might be more important than the temperature. Is it all of them or just some?

Without some detailed knowledge we can't give you suggestions on what you might want to fix or do anything to help solve your problem other than give generic suggestions like lock them in the coop for a few days or lock them in that coop at night until they start going to bed in there.

Thank you for your warm Southern welcome
We did have some windy weather lately. They seem to like watching us in the window at night
Maybe just carrying them back at night? Tried that in the beginning with the 1st but, as stated lately, they all joined after a while.

 

[LucileIsMyFave]

Be very, very careful with diatomaceous earth, it's a respiratory irritant to you (wear a mask next time you clean) and your birds, it also doesn't work that well.

I do mix very well with the dirt before they go back in. Anything else that would work better? How about fireplace ash?