Why did my hens stop going in on their own?

[dawnieworld]

My hens have been like clockwork going in at dusk. The last two nights they just stay outside and curl up close together on the perch. They are in an enclosed cage but I don't feel safe leaving them in that over night. Does anyone have this problem? if so, how to you re-train them to go inside at night? The only difference is that my husband put up a new perch in the enclosure and they seem to really like it. Should I remove it?

 

[Tiramisu]

So they are perching in the run? I guess I would try removing the perch as you said, they really have no need for it in the day when they are let out.

 

[Jaguaress]

Maybe put the new perch in the coop, and see if that helps. If it doesn't, double-check that no predators have found a way to get into the coop. A scare would make them less inclined to go back inside. Good luck.

 

[Frannabelle]

My Rooster has everbody to bed by 7:30 in the evening, even though there's daylight til 9:30 now. So last week I noticed that 2 nights in a row they were lingering outside the pop door, checked it out and there was a tiny bunny in the house eating away at the chicken feed. Now I've just raised the feeder and the bunny can't reach it so he's moved on to other food!

 

[ranchhand]

Is there a roost bar in the coop? They will always choose the highest spot for safety.

 

[dawnieworld]

Thanks everyone! I took the perch out and it worked like a charm. All in bed by 8:30 tonight! Whoooohooooo!

 

[svalentine]

We have a couple of perches in the run and a roosting bar inside the hen house. Sometimes during the day they just like to sit up there. They still go in at night no problem.
The only 2 nights we had a problem was right after a racoon got in and ate 2 of them. We practically had to peel them off the top of the run.