Staying out in the cold?!?

[MzSharon]

I have 8 month old girls that seems to love roosting outside of their coop at night. Girls I had before would go inside at night and when the temp went below freezing, I would go out at and shut the door to the coop. These chickens are not going in and the temps are going to go way down below freezing. Last night, I picked each one off the roost, put them inside the coop and shut the door. Why aren't they going in the coop at night?

 

[CluckerFamily]

There could be a few reasons they aren’t going in.
How warm is the inside of the coop compared to the outside?
Do you have enough ventilation in the coop?
Is the pecking order pushing some out into the run?
Is it getting too dark for them to get into the coop?

 

[Yardmom]

They will roost near the same place each night. If they were allowed to roost there when it was warmer they most likely will continue to roost there. If you want them to roost inside you need to make sure they are locked in before roosting time for several days.

 

[MissE]

Lock them in the coop for a few days, and remove the roost you don't want them to use so they aren't tempted when they have freedom again.

 

[BEAR CREEK NAN]

I have 8 month old girls that seems to love roosting outside of their coop at night. Girls I had before would go inside at night and when the temp went below freezing, I would go out at and shut the door to the coop. These chickens are not going in and the temps are going to go way down below freezing. Last night, I picked each one off the roost, put them inside the coop and shut the door. Why aren't they going in the coop at night?

Maybe they like the cooler weather?

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

My chickens prefer to roost in the outside part of the coop! It's very interesting. I also live in a climate where it rarely hits below 25F haha!

 

[MzSharon]

They will roost near the same place each night. If they were allowed to roost there when it was warmer they most likely will continue to roost there. If you want them to roost inside you need to make sure they are locked in before roosting time for several days.

That makes sense, I’ve gone out usually after 9. I will try an earlier intervention

 

[MzSharon]

My chickens prefer to roost in the outside part of the coop! It's very interesting. I also live in a climate where it rarely hits below 25F haha!

That’s exactly where all six of mine roost. NKY here and it’s been unusually mild, but a significant cold front is coming and I’m worried they won’t go inside.

 

[MzSharon]

Lock them in the coop for a few days, and remove the roost you don't want them to use so they aren't tempted when they have freedom again.

That seems a bit harsh... not sure I could do that

 

[MissE]

That’s exactly where all six of mine roost. NKY here and it’s been unusually mild, but a significant cold front is coming and I’m worried they won’t go inside.

As long as they are safe from predators and can stay dry, they should be fine. I'm in northern MN. We're heading for another cold snap this weekend. It will be 30-35 below without wind chill. Mine will be in the coop, but there's no heat.