Pullets won’t go in the coop

[TheChickenWitch]

Hello so I have 6 chickens, one cockerel for sure, 4 hens for sure and one silkie that I don’t know yet . I’ve had all of them since they were days old, and I moved them to the coop and they lived in there but once summer came they all started to roost on a log on the ground and quit going into the coop. Where I love it is starting to freeze at night and one of my pullets paid an egg! But I was wondering how I get them to start going into their coop at night! And using nest boxes!! I’ve been putting them in manually everynight. But is there some other tricks? These are my first chickens! Thank you!!

 

[Backyardhomestead921]

So, one way is to home them. That means to put them in the coop for a whole day or 2, with food, and water. Then see how that works.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of your coop/overall set up? If chickens that used to use a coop stop using it, possible issues could be parasites, predators/pests, overall space, roost space, too hot/stuffy, lack of ventilation, drafty ventilation.

Since you specified that they stopped using it at start of summer, I'd assume too hot/stuffy and lack of ventilation, but that's just a guess.

 

[aart]

Where I live it is starting to freeze at night

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[TheChickenWitch]

Any photos of your coop/overall set up? If chickens that used to use a coop stop using it, possible issues could be parasites, predators/pests, overall space, roost space, too hot/stuffy, lack of ventilation, drafty ventilation.

Since you specified that they stopped using it at start of summer, I'd assume too hot/stuffy and lack of ventilation, but that's just a guess.

Hmm I’m trying to figure out how to attach a photo. They were Jsut tiny little things and I’m worried they maybe cat use the little path thing up to the coop?? My polishes can’t see very well I don’t think parasites or pests or predators actually, it’s all cleaned out and I used DE and they just like their log? It frosted last night here so I put them in the coop. They can all perch. I’ll figure out how to send a picture! And then I need to take a picture! Thank you!

 

[TX Chick Noob]

Hmm I’m trying to figure out how to attach a photo.

if you are on a phone click on “Attach files” below where you type your reply. It will give you the option to choose photos from your photo library. After it loads click on “Insert” on the photo preview and select Thumbnail or Full Image.

 

[TheChickenWitch]

Wow thank you! Let’s see!

 

[TheChickenWitch]

Here is my coop. They can all fit on the roasting bars. And they have a little ladder on the outside to get in, they will jump down but not back in. The windows open.im hoping winter they will start going in there. Should I keep food in there? There’s always water and grit for bedtime...

 

[TX Chick Noob]

What are the interior dimensions of the coop, and how long is that roosting bar?

At a glance there doesn’t seem to be any ventilation at all with the windows closed.

 

[3KillerBs]

Roost bars that angle across a corner are not ideal because the ends where the bars are closer to the wall than the birds' tails are long are unusable.

What ventilation do you have? How does the temperature and humidity inside the coop compared to outside?

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

6 hens

• 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
• 6 feet of roost
• 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
• 6 square feet of ventilation.
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

If all your birds are Silkie bantams you may not strictly *need* that space, but those numbers are often considered minimums and more is better.