Should hens want to spend ANY time during day in the coop?

[drymanhattan]

I am not feeding my four hens in their raised coop. I let them out at 8 am and they go in at sunset, which is around 8:30 now. Thatmeans they spend about 12 hours in the rn and 12 in the coop. So far it doesn't seem to be a problem, although I wonder why they never go into the coop until nighttime. Will this change when they start laying? I'm thinking ahead, to longer nights and winter days that will be spent in the coop. Should I put something in there to make it more attractive, like a hanging cabbage? I was trying to be vigilant about not putting food in there, but is there anything else that would make it attractive?

 

[sourland]

Chickens are like me - they would far rather be outdoors. When winter hits and the snow piles up they will stay in the coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine go in and out and some of them hang out in the coop a bit. Some of the hens seem to go in when someone else is laying an egg (moral support I guess).
When I first built the larger coop I thought I had broken my chickens since they went in and did not come out for almost a week. The door was open so they could, they just didn't.

 

[SquishyPandas]

Every hen is different - most of mine rarely go back into the coop during the day but I have one who spends pretty much all her time there! :/

It doesn't really matter either way to be honest though, just whatever makes them happy

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Mine are in and out all day, sometimes when I go out they're in the coop, sometimes in the run. I figure they can do what they want. There is water both inside and out, food/grit/oyster shell inside. Any fruit, veggies or grass is given in the run. The dust bath is also outside.

 

[25 chickens]

I keep the food and the main waterer in the coop,treats and a supplemental water on really hot days I put outside in the run. They come in and out all day long. Many times I've seen them just hanging out in the coop on the roosts.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Your chickens will go out in the run in winter. If you have a roof or shovel the snow they will be outside. All they need is a wind break, I wrap the prevailing wind corner with a tarp and put hay down if the ground is iced over. Mine usually only stay in the coop for the morning period when temps are below -15F then outside well before noon. I toss some sunflower seed in the coop on those days as I keep the water and feed outside. The coop door is opened 7am at the latest every day no matter the temp and they've never stayed in the coop.

Some of the flock I'm growing out now do go in the coop in daytime to sit. I think that's due to the small grow out run and they are just bored. The electric poultry net will be up this week and am thinking with all that space and trees they wont ever go into the coop except roost or lay eggs when the time comes.

 

[donrae]

Mine wander in and out. How big is your coop and how many birds do you have?