Also check for signs of mice or rats. And make sure your roosts are comfortable.
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Maybe it's too small and it's stuffy and crowded in there?It's just a little string of LED Christmas lights in a jar to put some light in the coop. I didn't start doing it until they had been staying out at night for awhile (it was an attempt to lure them back in at night). There's nothing else inside the coop - it's built for just the 4 girls I have so it's not very big and I rake their bedding around every day, so I don't think anyone else is living in there. I've blocked off their access to the space under the coop for now and that seems to be directing them back inside. I might just have to leave it that way for a few weeks.
There you go!Hmm, these are some interesting theories. I think the chickens can see fairly well - there are windows on both sides of the coop so a good amount of light comes in and the little lights in the jar are nicely dim. The lights go off after a few hours (awesome little built in timer - love the dollar store!). Since blocking off the space under the coop, they've been going to bed without fuss. Maybe if I leave it blocked off until the spring they'll get the hint.
Thanks for all the suggestions!