Rooster won't go into coop at night

[luceeylou]

Have a small flock, 1 rooster, 5 hens. They have lived together wonderfully over past 4 yrs. Rooster has always been very good protector of his girls in a good way. They free range during the day and go into coop at night. Suddenly our rooster does not go into coop in evenings but goes in hay room. The only way he'll go in the coop is if we carry him in & place him in one of the boxes. During the day all is normal between him & his girls. He seems healthy, going on 5yrs old, is a silky. Would anybody know or have experienced this type of behavior in a Rooster? Sometimes I put him in a nest box I have in the basement but then I worry if I'm doing more harm by allowing him to be separate from the hens.

 

[CiscoChickens]

That's odd for sure, especially since he's so good with his girls during the day. I have a silkie rooster as well, but have not experienced this kind of behavior. I would keep putting him in with his girls at night, but other than that, it really doesn't sound like anything's wrong with him.

How long has this been going on? I wish I could help more!

 

[LaurEliz]

In the past, I have had a few (roosters and hens alike) that decide to go to a different place other than the coop suddenly. It never lasted more than a couple of days with mine. I'd just carry them back to the coop over and over and one day they'd go back on their own again. I'd try all the same things you do to teach younger chickens or new chickens to stay in the coop: feed them there, lock them in there for a couple days, etc. I'm unsure if it would work or not, because I've never had any that continued doing this for too long, but it's the best guess I have.

 

[RWise]

Is his new roost higher than his old roost?