Sudden Change in Roost

[texaskinner]

My chicken coop is attached to my barn. They go in there only to lay, eat, and roost. I lock them up at night, but during the day they are free to come and go, roaming wherever they want. Lately, some have opted to roost in the barn and slowly, each of the others followed suit. Now all 21 of them roost all over the barn instead of the coop. Too much of a mess for me to want to endure. Why do you think they did this and what can I do to get them to start roosting in the coop again? This evening I caught every one of them and put them back in there myself.

 

[Judy]

I'd guess either there's a problem in your coop -- rats, snake, lice/mites, could be a lot of things -- or they just like the barn better because they can roost higher in there.

 

[centrarchid]

My games prefer to roost in loft of barn, especially when temperatures drop. Some of motivation may also come from perceived threats by predators. As a general rule, when my birds shift roost due to predators or temperature, they move to areas with more escape options.

 

[critterranch]

yes probly rat or snake or something that is low. beleieve it os not they are smart sometimes. just trying to get high and way from what ever it is.
just be glad they are inside barn and not out side up in a tree lol