Roosting help

[Yidnim]

I added 4 new chickens to my flock this summer. They were put out in the runs and large coop(where they roosted every night) separated from the rest but able to see for about 6 weeks and then integrated. Things have been fine all summer. We have a chicken porch in the enclosed runs and the 4 have taken to roosting on the poach rail all summer. Now the weather has turned rainy and cooler 40-50ish) and it is not covered. It poured rain and hailed the other night and they were drenched! I hoped they would moved back inside but have not. Help

 

[rosemarythyme]

Short answer is manually place them inside each night and close the door so they have no choice but to be inside.

Longer answer, you said they were fine all summer yet roosted outside all summer. Have they ever roosted inside for an extended period of time? Is the coop large enough and ventilated enough, with enough roost length for total number of birds?

 

[Yidnim]

Short answer is manually place them inside each night and close the door so they have no choice but to be inside.

Longer answer, you said they were fine all summer yet roosted outside all summer. Have they ever roosted inside for an extended period of time? Is the coop large enough and ventilated enough, with enough roost length for total number of birds?

They roosted inside for almost two months in this coop by themselves before joining rest of flock. Plenty of room since the rest are all in other coop and they have a huge one to themselves.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Go ahead and try putting them in manually at night, doesn't even have to be on the roost if you don't care about that, but inside the coop at the very least. It may take a few weeks to get them to change their minds.