They won't roost in the coop :(

[llombardo]

I have the same coop. I had the same problem night one and two. I did remove the outer bar on night two. They kept flying up and nothing was there. They were rather confused, but they went inside. I removed the bar a couple more nights just in case. Now they go in on their own without issue and I don't have to remove the bar. I did rely on one of the roosters, he is the one that figured it out and got them in there. As far as room? They have plenty in there. They sleep real close together, so even if it was a box they would still be huddled together.

I never physically put them inside, I let them figure it out and they did.

 

[llombardo]

technically i probably could leave them in the run area of the coop. I put a second layer of hardware cloth on all areas of the actual coop(including the large sliding window)and hardware cloth around the bottom of the whole coop.

 

[RWise]

I free range and they must go inside for their protection. I move new birds that do not go in at dusk. It only takes a bit of training and they go in on their own.
Now if there is not enuf room (as they see it), or not enuf ventilation, or to much heat inside, too dark inside etc., these issues would need to be solved.

 

[marathongeezer]

I just got back to having chickens recently. The first few nights, I put them in the coop and let them out in the morning. Now, I just let them roost outdoors, just was too much trouble. I have a baby monitor nearby, so I hope I can hear if they get upset at night. And yes, they go into the coop to lay eggs all the time. They just prefer being outdoors.

 

[ehoneybee]

We have the same coop and my girls do the same thing! I've been removing the perch and they go right in. Ours is not predator proof, otherwise I'd leave them out there. They always go inside to lay, don't worry!

 

[ArthurChicken]

I had the same problem. We had two at Xmas so called one Partridge and one Pear Tree as they roosting on branches high up in the run. But just kept putting them in at night and they eventually got the idea. Don't want to worry you, but sometimes chickens avoid coops if there's Red Mite. But doubt it's that - just a possibility.

 

[featherhead007]

I had to bribe my chickens to get in the coop! Meally worms and canned corn seemed to work.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Mine didn't start going in on their own until they were close to 10 weeks old. I had to put then in the coop at night. Then one night, when I went out to put them up, they were all in the coop! Mine now have a routine. Close to bedtime, they will go to the roost in the run, and preen for about an hour. Then they will go in the coop to sleep.

 

[MROO]

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Your coop looks open and airy and seems to have a lot of light in it. Folly's Place is right in that chickens like to roost up high. If you put a higher roost or a shelf inside, it might make the coop more attractive to your girls. Then there's the "New Place" factor. Physically moving them inside every night for a bit will probably work, too. I did that with my last bunch of babies, and after the first few days, I went out to herd them inside ... and panicked! I couldn't see a single youngster anywhere! I quickly scanned the yard, then made a circuit of their run, looking for where they could have gotten out (or something could have gotten in.) Nothing! Then I heard peeping from inside their coop. They'd finally figured it out on their own!

 

[crikkit]

I have the same coop. The roost is just barely higher than the tray and nesting boxes, so I made a higher, removable roost from 2x4s. It's oriented the opposite direction from the original roosts, so all three of my girls can fit on it.