Sleeping on top of coops

[CoolChickenPerson]

The past weeks my 4 chickens tend to sleep on top of their coops. I have 2 coops able to fit 2 grown chickens.

Would I have to keep the chickens locked in for a few days to help train them again or is there a better solution to this issue?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Usually when chickens do this it’s because there is something about the coop they don’t like—mites, predators, or lack of ventilation are the top causes. You can physically move them every night and lock them in but it won’t solve the problem in my experience. Do you have a picture of your coops?

 

[Anon112]

Are the coops inside of a run that is safe from predators? If so, I'd just let them sleep open air. My chickens have slept al fresco (on top of the coop roof and on some horizontal boards in the run) for the last 8 years. The only issue is making sure they are safe from the wind when the temps are low.

Like the post above says, there's usually a reason chickens move outside of the coop. Forcing them inside won't help, and if they are trying to escape something that bothers them (pests, too much ammonia in the air) it could actually harm them.