WHAT THE HECK?!?!

[BarredCometLaced]

My chickens, 1 year in July, have recently stopped using their coop. It is the weirdest thing, all winter they used their coop. BUT THEN, spring came and they all decided that they liked camping and they began sleeping outside on the outdoor roost. I convinced my father it was because the coop was too small, so we built the coop bigger (now it is about 6*3). We have three chickens. So now the coop is bigger and they still aren't roosting in their coop. Then my father thought, Maybe it is because their run is covered? So we took off the tarp that covered their run. NOPE! They still refuse to roost in their coop... We have three young chicks that we will be introducing soon and they need good examples to show them what to do. I have heard that locking the chickens up for three days will teach them where to sleep, but that isn't fool proof. Would that even work for year old chickens?
Any good ideas for three stubborn chickens?

THANK YAH!

***Also, i noticed that they stopped using the coop when their light burnt out. Would adding a light convince them to go back in at night? Their outdoor pen is lighted so maybe they like comfort?

 

[mnferalkitty]

My chickens don't have a choice they all go in no matter what if they don't go in I take an umbrella and open and close it tell they all go in. I have predetors so they must go in for safety

 

[devora]

Birds do not need a light. If, however, you've trained them to roost where the light is then you need to retrain them to use the coop wo/ light. You can do this now; their age is irrelevant.

Lock them in the coop for two or three days.

Good luck!

 

[BarredCometLaced]

Any other suggestions?

 

[askfortrouble]

I'm pretty new to chickens, but I have raised mine to come inside when their light comes on. I have it set on a timer from dusk to dawn. When their light comes on they come running in the coop, which I then lock up for the night, for their safety. My guess is that if you did the same, they would be back in their coop.

 

[laturcotte1]

change the bulb put the light back on. Put it on timer. They will go in when its lighter inside than outside when the light goes out it will already be dark out and they won't venture back out. They will get use to the timing of the light and will go in do their thing and roost before the light goes out. In the summer all doors in our coop stay open (the coop and run secured from predators) so they can come out when they want in the morning. In winter the light goes on they go in and all the doors get closed due to the cold. In the morning we open them before work. They have very poor eyesight thats why you can pick them off a roost in the dark. Put the light back on they seemed to like it. don't you love them.