One hen refuses to go into pop door at night.

[rubyrogue]

My new coop has been finished for about 2 weeks now. I splurged and bought an auto door. Problem is I have one hen that won't go in at night. she will lay right in front of the door but won't go in. This is only at night, she comes out in the morning and goes in and out during the day. I am at a loss it is defeating the purpose of an auto door if I have to go out and put her back in the coop every night. I check every night to make sure no one got locked out and it is always just her so i have to get my coat on and go get her. Any ideas as to why she is fine during the day but wont go in at night?

 

[rubyrogue]

Anyone? I was out again tonight and there was an owl waiting in the tree next to the run and she was laying just outside the closed pop door.

 

[elmo]

Hmm. Is she low on the pecking order? There may be another chicken bullying her over roosting space inside the coop.

 

[blefky]

I would make sure that there is adequate roosting space - approx. a foot per bird, and perhaps close them in for a few days. Do you notice any pecking order issues during the day?

 

[wannabchick]

I have a couple still each night I have to go outside and get and put in coop..

Time, and well..exacto..one could be stopping her from coming in

My silkie..can figure out how to get out, lmao but I swear can't figure out how to get back in..hehhehe

Iam going to put a doghouse in there..so she can go in that..I think the ramp just freaks her out

Xoxo

 

[rubyrogue]

Plenty of roosting space. I built this coop the way I wanted and took my time it is a converted prebuilt shed. I allowed for 2ft per bird of roosting space and they have also figured out how to get up into the rafters so have created an additional probably 10ft of roost. Like I said she goes in and out during the day its just at night. They have all been together for months so pecking order is all figured out and no issues during the day they are all very calm. when I go out to check if she is in it is still kinda light out and everyone else is roosting and has been roosting for at least 30min so she has had plenty of time to go in. I kept them locked in for a week before I let them out into their run. I guess I will just have to keep going out there as now the owl has figured out there is a free meal.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Hmm. Doesn't sound like it's a roost space problem, then.

Do you keep feed and water in the coop? Sometimes I'll notice some of my chickens outside later than the others and it's usually because they're eating (even though I also have a feed station inside the coop, too).

Some chickens just have a later bedtime than others. I wonder if you tried setting the door to close a bit later, whether that would help. It's very odd, though, for a single chicken not to follow the lead of the flock. Is there anything different about his one, such as being the only chicken of that breed in the flock?

Pecking order is not static. Sometimes chickens will pick up on a subtle weakness in one flock member (an injury or illness) and use that as an opportunity to climb the ladder past the weakened bird.

 

[rubyrogue]

nope nothing different about her she is one of my older birds. i have birds from 20 weeks up to 2 years and she is a 2 year old. She is one of four gold sex links. Food and water are inside the coop as well as a light that i started leaving on to try and lure her in. I am going to reset the door this weekend but the owl is really worrying me as i do not have a top on my run as it is too big.

 

[Knittycat]

You have my sympathies. I have a similar problem. Except *none* of them will go in at night. Go figure. I hope it gets sorted out for you!

 

[jomercer]

Quote:
My golden comet is my "night owl"--the last to go inside, long after it's gotten dark and the others have settled in.

One of the other chickens stopped going into the coop when the bully of the group laid in wait just inside the door......