Why?

[SarahCanela]

Hello, I’ve had these two girls for over a year. They have a lovely coop that I clean very often. They have been free to roam a large area of my yard and always return to roost in their coop at dusk until two days ago when they started setting up to sleep here by my back door on my recyclables container and this table. I put them in their coop and they go back to this spot. It doesn’t look very comfortable but the only way they stay in their coop is if I put them in when it’s dark. Up until two nights ago this wasn’t an issue. Is it ok, should I do something about it or let them sleep here? Could there be an issue in the coop? Any help is welcome! Please and thank you!

 

[Ponte]

Look for rats, Snakes, other rodents or predators Inside the coop.

 

[aart]

Is it ok, should I do something about it or let them sleep here? Could there be an issue in the coop? Any help is welcome! Please and thank you!

I think you should do something about it.
Please post pics of the coop, inside and out.....
...and tell us......
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[SarahCanela]

Here is their coop, they have free roaming of my entire 1/2 acre yard all day. I’m having my husband build them some more perches as I wonder if it’s too cramped in there for them now after seeing other coops.

 

[SarahCanela]

I’m in CA, weather has been raining one week on and then beautiful and sunny one week on. This week temps are between 66-80degrees. I saw some rats a few weeks ago wondering if they are being a problem late at night. Put traps in the shed. Again they’ve lived and slept in this coop for over a year now I haven’t changed anything and all of a sudden it’s seems like a scary place for them.

 

[Ponte]

If you saw rats during daylight, they are definitely there at nighttime.
Good odds that rats are why your girls are avoiding the coop.

 

[SarahCanela]

Look for rats, Snakes, other rodents or predators Inside the coop.

thanks, I saw some rats a few weeks ago, but don’t think they can get into the Coop. Would they still not want to sleep there if they saw rats on the outside?

If you saw rats during daylight, they are definitely there at nighttime.
Good odds that rats are why your girls are avoiding the coop.

Thanks, What is the best way to get rid of rats? My chickens coop is in a gated garden area under my avocado tree, should I move there coop out of that area? There’s a net above them to catch the avocados. But wondering if the avocado tree brings the rats.

 

[Ponte]

Like you I have my coop under a tree, mine is under a mango tree.
I poison the rats but you have to be 100% sure your chickens cannot get to the poison and the dead rats.
You should wait before taking action for responses from those who have extensive experience with chickens as I am a newbie.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Rats could be an issue, though also wondering if you've checked for roost mites?