Pullets refuse to stay in coop at night.

[Redleg50]

Hello all. I have three pullets that refuse to go into the coop at night. They stay on a roost in the run. When we got them, we left them enclosed in the coop for two days and then let them out. They never went back in the coop. After consultation from the company I bought them from, I enclosed them in the coop again for a week. Once again, once they were allowed in the run, they refused to go back in the coop. I’ve tried the night light in the coop but it doesn’t work for them. I’ve tried treats as well to entice them up the ramp and into the coop. They won’t do it.

I have an Orpington Lodge coop with a 6’ long run. It is a previously used coop for an older hen but I moved that hen to another coop a couple of months before I got the pullets. I cleaned it the best I could before the pullets arrived. I’ve had them for 5 weeks and they were 6 weeks old when I got them. It’s pretty difficult for me to get them off the roost to physically move them as I have to be on hands and knees to reach in and it’s a at an awkward angle.

 

[Debbie292d]

Can you remove that roost and put it in the coop? It sounds like they became accustomed to that roost and don't like whatever's in the coop.

We've only had the issue happen once where our newer free-rangers kept going under the deck to roost. That was rough to get them out every night. Then I got the wild idea of a garden hose. It was very warm that night so put the nozzle on "mist" and sprayed them. They never went under there again! They've gone to the coop ever since. that was a couple of months ago.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of your coop? What's the measurements of the coop?

Roosting bars different and further off the ground in the coop?

Previously use, any mites in the coop? Mice?

They may feel they have more room and ventilation outside insted of inside a small coop. Is there any natural light coming in?

 

[Redleg50]

Do you have photos of your coop? What's the measurements of the coop?

Roosting bars different and further off the ground in the coop?

Previously use, any mites in the coop? Mice?

They may feel they have more room and ventilation outside insted of inside a small coop. Is there any natural light coming in?

No mice or mites that I know of. Ther are two side vents that are open as well as a back vent and of course the coop door. Excuse the mutt in the pic. It’s the only one I could fin pd at the spur of the moment. Yes there is natural lighting through the vents and coop door

28.5”long x 55″wide x 57.5″tall.

• 54” x 28” interior floor space
• 4 Nesting Boxes
• 2 Lower interior roosting bars
• 1 Raised interior roosting bars
• 15” clearance under the hen house

 

[Redleg50]

Can you remove that roost and put it in the coop? It sounds like they became accustomed to that roost and don't like whatever's in the coop.

We've only had the issue happen once where our newer free-rangers kept going under the deck to roost. That was rough to get them out every night. Then I got the wild idea of a garden hose. It was very warm that night so put the nozzle on "mist" and sprayed them. They never went under there again! They've gone to the coop ever since. that was a couple of months ago.

Never thought about removing the roost in the run. I’ll check on that tomorrow. I’m nervous about using water as it’s getting cold at night and I wouldn’t want them wet if they choose not to go in

 

[Debbie292d]

Never thought about removing the roost in the run. I’ll check on that tomorrow. I’m nervous about using water as it’s getting cold at night and I wouldn’t want them wet if they choose not to go in

Yes, I wouldn't have used it had it not been around 75F that night. These are silkies.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No mice or mites that I know of. Ther are two side vents that are open as well as a back vent and of course the coop door. Excuse the mutt in the pic. It’s the only one I could fin pd at the spur of the moment. Yes there is natural lighting through the vents and coop door

28.5”long x 55″wide x 57.5″tall.

• 54” x 28” interior floor space
• 4 Nesting Boxes
• 2 Lower interior roosting bars
• 1 Raised interior roosting bars
• 15” clearance under the hen house

Removing the perches/roosts in the run may help.

I wonder if it's a little too confined for all of them, but who knows what chickens think.

 

[gtaus]

It’s pretty difficult for me to get them off the roost to physically move them as I have to be on hands and knees to reach in and it’s a at an awkward angle.

That is a very nice-looking little coop. I think you can make it work. The first thing that came to my mind was getting rid of the roost in the chicken run. They don't need it, and if they prefer to roost outside instead of going into the coop, it's working against you.

Chickens naturally seek a higher roost for the night. It's instinctual. Having said that, my pullets are happy to sleep on the floor like they did in the brooder. They all grow out of it , after a number of weeks, and eventually look for that higher roost. Don't give them the option of an outside roost, as others have mentioned.

If the chickens still won't go into the coop at night, I would temporarily block off that area under the coop. Then I would take a leaf rake and gently encourage the chickens up the ramp into the coop. Perhaps toss some chicken scratch in the coop as a treat for them going inside.

Do you have a pop door that you can close behind them, so they don't all run outside again?

I'm an old guy, so I have a coop and run that I can walk in without bending over. In your case, I would look at some options to make that top removable, or at least prop it up. I don't think I could get down on my hands and knees very often to take care of my chickens. If you can modify your top to come off, or even prop it up, then you could reach inside the run.

A better solution, for me anyways, would be to double that chicken run height to around 6 feet so I could get inside standing up, for maintenance, cleaning, etc... It would also make it a whole lot easier to herd those chickens up the ramp into the coop.

Beautiful dog there. Looks really happy. Having said that, I have had black labs, and they all had good hunting instincts. My labs were happiest when hunting down small animals. Make sure your dog cannot get into the chickens!

Good luck.