Chickens stopped going into coop at night

[Debbie292d]

It's only about 20' from my kitchen so that would probably work. Thanks for the suggestion. I had stumbled across that light and/or some very similar items that seem to be able to do the auto on OR auto off, but not at the same time. I'll keep looking and hopefully something turns up that can handle both.

In the meantime, I'll work on some repositioning possibilities and try to get all the coffee grounds out of there. The pelletized bedding is cheap enough that I am okay starting over in there. I've got another 4-5 bags in my garage, as-is.

We use horse bedding pellets too, have for years. Just this year in our brooders though...game changer!

 

[aart]

How old are your birds(in weeks or months) and how many of them??

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

How old are your birds(in weeks or months) and how many of them??

10 birds and they are all about 6 months old.
I know many have suggested their "coop" is too small, but I have noticed no signs of fighting or unhappiness.
If anything, I think they are just too comfortable hanging in the "pen" where they spend 13-15 hrs/day.
I reconfigured the night light today to point at the door so the light source is more visible from outside the door. I did it maybe an hour before sun down and a few of them were going in/out for funsies, but no one stayed in.

Pics of them on their outdoor roosting bar with the coop door already shut.
Ventilation in the coop is fine. Because there is a secure roof on the "pen", most of the "coop" roof is propped open for additional airflow, but the height of the side panels were designed to provide shelter in high winds, so they limit the amount of ambient light that can reach into the coop around dusk. TBH, I think any amount of ambient light will just make the outside similarly bright if there is no artificial lighting.

 

[1motorpsycho]

My flock put itself to bed after about a week, but then they stopped doing it and now I have to put them to bed by hand every night. To my untrained eyes, the coop isn't that dirty or smelly (plenty of pellets and whatnot) and they certainly still go inside to use the nesting boxes every day. I tried to use the approach of putting a light on around dusk to lure them inside before the door auto-closes 90 min after it senses darkness, but they're happy on their outdoor roosting bars.

The coop is within a secure pen, so they have no fear of potential predators. Unfortunately, there are a small handful of light sources nearby. It's not bright at night, but it would be difficult to eliminate them all to get pitch black (street lights and security lights maybe a hundred feet away).

I tried using a handheld light that I turn on and hang in the coop, but it's hard to find the time to do it consistently. If a light to attract them is the best way to go, any recommendations on a powered light that can automatically turn on for 1-2 hours would be great. Most of the ones I have seen appear to either stay on all night or required you to push a specific timer which doesn't really meet my desired amount of automation.

I would prefer not to run power to my coop so something wireless or solar powered would be ideal. I do have a 12V battery that powers my chicken door.

Mine are doing the same thing. The pen isn't 100% secure if something wants in. I'm so tired of chasing them around and if I'm not home I can't all someone else to do that.

 

[McChooky]

I use a 5 watt usb powered emergency light bulb sold on amazon for 10-15 bucks.Some light won't bother your chickens at night

 

[1motorpsycho]

I tried all kinds of bulbs. Still experimenting. I think the last one was way too bright so tonight I'm experimenting by keeping that one off. It's dark. I also did a deep cleaning and disinfectant today. They are so dang slow. About to go see if they got locked out again. Lol.

 

[1motorpsycho]

I use a 5 watt usb powered emergency light bulb sold on amazon for 10-15 bucks.Some light won't bother your chickens at night

I use a daylight led but the red tape keeps falling off. They are going in now, but just slow. Now the days will start getting longer thank goodness.

 

[McChooky]

I use black landscape fabric on the upper part of my run to block light, wind and rain off any chickens that roost there at night. The fabric can also block them from view by predators while they're sleeping.This is important if you use lights

 

[SkyAJK]

My chickens go to bed as the sun goes down, but before dark. Except for 1 hen, every one in the flock likes to hang out with her. Even the bully wants to be her friend.

This hen moves herself to another coop, abandoning her coop. She goes in to the other coop earlier than anyone else. When I take her out as it is not her coop, she stands at the stair of her coop and not go inside. I finally let her be, sleep where she wants, then she moves back and for between her coop and the other coop.

I don't know might be there is lice and mites? I am will dust some powder in that coop.

 

[McChooky]

My chickens go to bed as the sun goes down, but before dark. Except for 1 hen, every one in the flock likes to hang out with her. Even the bully wants to be her friend.

This hen moves herself to another coop, abandoning her coop. She goes in to the other coop earlier than anyone else. When I take her out as it is not her coop, she stands at the stair of her coop and not go inside. I finally let her be, sleep where she wants, then she moves back and for between her coop and the other coop.

I don't know might be there is lice and mites? I am will dust some powder in that coop.

This coop may be the problem or one of her flockmates.Maybe both. Chickens are creatures of habit and don't like change so whatever it is you need to get to the bottom of it. If your flock has ever been attacked in this coop she may not feel safe