Odd Behavior

[merrymutts]

Past couple of weeks, my chickens have not wanted to spend the night in their coop, but out in the pen roosting on a smaller hen house, Thought maybe it was because it's been so warm at night/

Now the younger birds and the guineas want to roost on top of the outside of the pen ( 6' chain link dog panels ) and have to be chased inside the pen. I don't feel comfortable with this as we have owls, hawks and other predators in the vicinity.

Last week, hubs and I found a copperhead in the area of the chicken coop ( now deceased ) and wonder if this might be a reason ?

I have not ( Thank God ) seen any snakes IN the chicken coop and about half the birds DO go insde at night.

Thoughts ?

 

[aart]

Could be the heat, could be snakes or other pests.
How big is your coop in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics(inside and out) would be most helpful here.
How many birds with ages and genders?

 

[FlyAnywayAJ]

I've never had this happen with my chickens, but if my duck flock won't go into their box at night there's been a reason. Snakes aren't an issue where I live, but the last time my ducks wouldn't go to bed it was a fisher on the prowl. We are fortunate because we have both chickens and ducks so we have 2 places they can sleep. They just sleep with the chickens until the issue is resolved.