I have 4 hens that will be 3 yrs old this spring. Just in the last week I caught one sleeping next to my back door on top of a plastic trash can after everyone else was in the coop for the night. I herded her back to the coop and closed the door to be sure she stayed in. She, OG, is the smallest and the bottom of the pecking order so I thought she might have been chased out of the coop. Figured I better keep an eye out in the evenings to be sure she's safely inside for the night. Then, the next night another of the hens was sleeping on the other side of the door on top of a large deck storage box. She, Blondie, is the head hen so there wouldn't have any issues with her being run out of coop. Put her in for the night. Next night same thing with Blondie. The girls have free range in my fenced back yard. The coop has a run attached and both are more than large enough for 4 hens and they have grown up there. The coop has an automatic door closure, which is a life saver for me. I'm too old to be having to lock them up every night. The ladies are all Easter Eggers and are currently not laying due to the time of year. So, what gives? Cannot figure out this sudden change in behavior. They would not be safe out in the open bc of predators but I don't want to be searching the yard and running chickens back into the coop at night in the middle of the winter! I have read through other articles on here concerning the same problem just not the same situation. Any ideas?
