Why?

[Suburban chick farmer 09]

I don't know what is going on! I let a hen hatch 3 eggs. After they hatched, I kept her separated with the chicks for a week. She was then allowed back in the coop, and she took her chicks in every night for the past two months without a problem. Now, for the past three days she just sits in the middle of our yard in the pitch black with the chicks. I have to put her and the chicks in at night. She just won't go in! It was raining pretty hard tonight, and she still just sat there in the middle of the yard in the rain.

I know for a fact, that the chicks aren't bullied by the other chickens. The other hens don't even chase them off during snack time.

 

[silkiechicken]

Perhaps something else in the coop scared them so they don't want to return? I had a whole batch of chickens not want to get into their coop after a break in by a coon.

 

[Suburban chick farmer 09]

I know that predators are not an issue. We have two BIG dogs that are out with the chickens till the coop is locked up.

 

[kathyinmo]

How about a mouse or rat? Another thought ... has she been wormed? Can she be drained from that? Is she active during the day? Is this only at night? I have also heard that mites (active at night) can cause chickens to not want to go to roost. I dunno, but good luck!

 

[Suburban chick farmer 09]

Quote:
1) mouse or rat? Maybe a mouse. That would be the only thing that could get in my coop. They can squeeze through anything.

2) Has she been wormed? No. What are the signs of chickens having worms? I clean their droppings board daily, and have never noticed anything different with their poo.

3) Is she active during the day? Yes.

4) Is this only at night? Not sure. The past three days, I haven't been home till it was almost dark, but the food and water are kept in the coop.

5)Mites? I will do a search on mites. This seems like the most logical reason, although, all the other chickens go in at night.

Thanks for the help.