Sleeping Outside of Coop

[beeksnfeet]

A few months back I had a problem with one of my Buff Orps sleeping on the roost outside in the run instead of inside the coop. We took the roost down after I had to pick her up and put her on the roost in the coop at night for 3 days. Our winter has been so bitter cold and snowy that I didn't want to find her frozen to the roost in the morning. She finially got the hang of going back in at night. I would check her and she would be sleeping on the floor. One was in the nesting box and another was on the roost at the other end of the coop. Plenty of room for her, but noooooo, she still snuggled on the floor. At least she was inside. A few weeks back we put the roost back up and she is now, once again is sleeping outside. I cannot move her every night, so we have been keeping the little door on the coop open so if she changes her mind she can go in. The coop is inside the run, and all is covered with plastic sheeting to protect the girls from rain, snow, wind. The other 2 never hesitate to go in side. We had previously removed 2 White Rocks that were very agressive and brutal to the buffs. Margo is the head cluck now that the two nasty birds are gone. She is the one who insists on sleeping outside! Any thoughts?:/

 

[JadedPhoenix]

My last flock, nearly 2/3 of them wanted to sleep in trees instead of in their coop instead. It wasn't a real problem and they were free-ranged but I never lost one at night. Since yours are in a run, I personally wouldn't be that concerned.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Last month during "the storm of the century" when it got down to 18* at night one of my roosters escaped his pen. He couldn't get back in that evening so he slept on the roof of the barn above his pen, up there in the blowing wind and freezing cold, on a cold metal roof. I saw him about 10 pm when I went out to have a smoke.
I said oh well I aint climbing up there to get him. Figured he'd be froze solid the next morning but he was on the ground scratching & pecking as usual.

 

[beeksnfeet]

My last flock, nearly 2/3 of them wanted to sleep in trees instead of in their coop instead.  It wasn't a real problem and they were free-ranged but I never lost one at night.  Since yours are in a run, I personally wouldn't be that concerned.  

Thanks! We all have are little quirks, so why not chickens! We have been down to as low as -18 degrees and as we speak, I'm watching the last of our new 5 inches of snow taper off, with a temp of 9, wind chill around zero. They are hardier then I ever imagined. Thanks again!

 

[beeksnfeet]

Last month during "the storm of the century" when it got down to 18* at night one of my roosters escaped his pen. He couldn't get back in that evening so he slept on the roof of the barn above his pen, up there in the blowing wind and freezing cold, on a cold metal roof. I saw him about 10 pm when I went out to have a smoke.
I said oh well I aint climbing up there to get him. Figured he'd be froze solid the next morning but he was on the ground scratching & pecking as usual.

Our storm of the century has been on going. Never ending it seems. Your reply cracked me up. I felt the same way when I saw Margo on the roost the other night. I told myself, I love ya, but if I have to cook some frozen chicken nuggetts tomorrow I'm ok with that. It is so hard trying to get her in after dark in such nasty weather. I'd rather be inside by the fire, sippin on some of Daddy's special blend!!!

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I hear ya! I was in the military when I was young so I have the mindset that the chickens should be lined up neatly on the roost, lay their eggs in an orderly fashion in the nest boxes, stand quitely in the chow line, etc etc. Eventually I decided the heck with it, they can do whatever they want to, I don't care as long as they lay me lots of eggs.

 

[beeksnfeet]

I hear ya! I was in the military when I was young so I have the mindset that the chickens should be lined up neatly on the roost, lay their eggs in an orderly fashion in the nest boxes, stand quitely in the chow line, etc etc. Eventually I decided the heck with it, they can do whatever they want to, I don't care as long as they lay me lots of eggs.

AMEN!