will he ever go to the coop!

[FLchook]

My rooster is insistent on going into the tree to sleep... I've never had a problem with the idea, until the new ladies one night decided to follow. That night something nabbed 2 of them. After years of Snow White and camo sleeping up there, I didn't think much of it. First attach in a tree ever.


Anyway, that afternoon I put them all into the coop/run, where they have stayed for a week now. I let them out yesterday and watch come dusk. Sure enough, he promptly went back to the tree with all girls following. I grabbed him mid jump and stuffed him back into the run. The girls followed. We have a 6 chooks in a 10x10 run with a good size coop attached, but you can tell they hate being confined after free-ranging for so long. Will he ever be broke of sleeping in the tree? Any suggestions?

thanks,
shannon

 

[carrlr]

It will be difficult. It's very hard to change a chickens habits. Have you considered clipping his wing. You'd only have to do one and it would be temporary. I don't know your predator situation, but if he can't get in the tree he may decide the coop is the right place and develope a new habit.

 

[FLchook]

We have a good amount of predators around here. Better for him if he can fly.