Won't use coop.

[Sequimmyers]

Hi,
Only been living with chickens for little over a year now and I have a question. My chickens refuse to use the coop, at all! I've tried keeping them contained for a couple weeks but as soon as I let them out, they steer clear. They roost in the evergreens at night instead of the coop. This past winter it was cold and still, they preferred the trees (all survived and did well). Any ideas on how to get them to return to the coop at night instead of the trees or can I just let them roost in their natural habitat? (The trees are pretty dense and the chickens are hidden very well.)
Thank you.

 

[andreanar]

What breed of chickens do you have? Where do they lay their eggs? Do they have a nice high roost bar in the coop?

 

[Mrs. K]

It must be the coop. Can you post pictures? Measurements, size, number and breed of birds would also help.

It would never work where I live, the predators would pick them off. If you have them succeeding, you are lucky.

 

[Sequimmyers]

I will try to get pictures posted of coop. It fits 10 birds and I have 7, yes it has a high roost bar. They lay they eggs sometimes in the coop nesting boxes but mostly in places around the property. I put up nests for them outside coop cause I was always finding eggs around yard. I have Buff Orphingtons, Australorps (one being a rooster) and one Frizzle.

Thank you.

 

[Teila]

Hey there Sequimmyers

Did they used to use the coop for roosting and then stopped or have they never used it?

Some reasons I know that chickens will stop roosting in the coop are:
* Lice or mites - they would rather take their chances outside than be nibbled on during the night
* Vermin, mice or rats or something scaring them so that they feel safer outside and
* When it comes time for them to roost, the coop is much darker than outside; kinda like they left their run too late and can not see in the coop so well. An easy fix for this is a solar powered nightlight etc

 

[aart]

Also...what is your location?
Climate can be important info.
You can put it in your profile, then its always there!