Why will none of my pullets sleep in their coop?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have six, 8wk old pullets who are living full time outside with the rest of my flock (3 adult hens). For the past 4-5 nights, I have been going outside to check on them after dark, only to find 3 or 4 in the nearby tree, 1 on the windowsill outside of the coop, and usually one or two inside the coop. My coop is 5x5ft with two perches going across (maybe 4ft each?), and rafters up above. The reason I am mentioning the rafters is because my 3 adult hens have, for some reason, decided that they like to sleep in the rafters rather than on the perches (they chose to sleep there long before the chicks came). My guess is they like it because it is higher up. That being said, there are two perches completely open for the chicks to use. I know none of my adult hens are kicking the chicks out, because, like I said, they are all in the rafters above, unable to reach the chicks below. With two perches and six chicks, they should easily be able to fit on the roosts (3 on each roost is very spacious for them). Back when I had four adult hens, they would all choose to sleep on the same perch together, so perch space isn't a problem. For 1 1/2 years, one of my adult hens had an unbreakable habit of sleeping in the tree (even in the winter) up until just a few nights ago when I put Pinless Peepers on her to stop an egg eating problem, so that's where I think the chicks got the tree-sleeping idea. That being said, is there any way to get them to sleep in the coop at night? My run is not owl proof, so even though we've never had an owl problem before, I don't want to try my luck with these girls. I'm just really unsure as to why they won't put themselves in the coop at night. Am I doing something wrong here?

Incase it matters, the pullets breeds are: Cuckoo Marans (sleeps in the tree), Lavender Orpington (sleeps in the coop), Dark Brahma (on the windowsill), Black Australorp (tree), Olive Egger (usually tree, sometimes coop), and Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte (tree).
And the adults are: ISA Brown, Buff Orpington (the previous tree sleeper), and an Easter Egger.

 

[atomic]

When I first put mine out, they slept outside on the ground. I physically picked them up and placed them into the coop, and shut the door. After a couple nights doing that they automatically go inside now.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

When you first put the pullets into the big coop, were they locked inside for a few days? Sometimes they need to be taught to sleep in the coop. They may also find it easier to sleep outside rather than face the "scary adult hens." I'd either keep them locked in there for a few days so they learn that the coop is home base, or manually put them in there every night. They usually learn pretty quickly.

 

[thecatumbrella]

They don't know what to do. Mom would normally teach them. We had to go out around bedtime and shove them in (and lock the door behind them). It only took that one night for them to figure it out from there, but your mileage may vary!

 

[Birnenhof]

They just don't know.
They would ofcourse love to sleep under a roof on a pile of straw but the have to be told it's there and they can sleep on it.

I just keep on putting them back and making sure they like it there.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

When I first put mine out, they slept outside on the ground. I physically picked them up and placed them into the coop, and shut the door. After a couple nights doing that they automatically go inside now.

I have been manually putting them in the coop every night, how long should it take for them to go into the coop by themselves?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have been manually putting them in the coop every night, how long should it take for them to go into the coop by themselves?

Oh boy. In that case, they should have taken the hint by now. Can you set up a cheap camera in there to see what's going on? There might be some unexpected bullying or something else that's putting them off the coop. Can you post some pictures of your setup?

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Oh boy. In that case, they should have taken the hint by now. Can you set up a cheap camera in there to see what's going on? There might be some unexpected bullying or something else that's putting them off the coop. Can you post some pictures of your setup?

I will think about the camera and send pictures of my setup ASAP.

 

[casportpony]

Check the coop & roosts for mites.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Check the coop & roosts for mites.

Would I just see little bugs climbing around? If not, how to I check for them?