Ladies camping out

[Jakemedic]

Hello! Since daylight saving time occurred, I have had 1-4 ladies that end up camping out in the secure run after their automatic door closes to the coop. I have a cam in the run, so I just go down, open the door and they make all kinds of angry hen noises as I pick them up and place them on the board going to the door.

I am trying to figure out what is going on. I have artificial light an hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset. Could it be that I need to upgrade my automatic door to include a timer?

Surely, someone else has had this problem, how did you fix it?

Thanks for any advice you may provide to me and my gals!

PS the pic is some night crawlers my wife found after a soaking rain. She put some dirt in a coffee can and I brought them a special protein treat!!!

 

[cavemanrich]

I am trying to figure out what is going on. I have artificial light an hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset. Could it be that I need to upgrade my automatic door to include a timer?

You are adding light to maintain egg production. The accepted way to do such,, is to add light only at dawn. That means light on before dawn. The chickens wake, eat,, and in a short time,, they venture outside where natural daylight is happening.
I am assuming that there is food and water inside your coop when light comes on. (in the morning.)
Not sure how your Automatic door is operated. Timer set, or photo light operated. (light sensing)
I have a photo-lite operated pop door. My chickens are on their roost, before my pop door closes.
My suggestion for you... Discontinue the evening added light,, and add that much to the morning light time.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[aart]

Are both the door and the light controlled by a light sensor or a timer?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since daylight saving time occurred,

Chickens do not understand the concept of DST. It gets daylight, it gets dark. The length of daylight and dark doesn't change. The only changes due to DST have been to your schedule.

I know, since we have not hit the winter equinox yet the days are still getting shorter north of the equator. Nothing substantial has changed to the natural system that the chickens would know.

I am trying to figure out what is going on. I have artificial light an hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset. Could it be that I need to upgrade my automatic door to include a timer?

How is your door controlled? What triggers it to open and close? If it is daylight and sunset triggered then nothing should have changed, just your clock setting.

I have had 1-4 ladies that end up camping out in the secure run after their automatic door closes to the coop.

When did this change? Is the door shutting before it is dark enough to trigger them to go into the coop?

Are these new additions that have not been fully integrated? Are these the only four you have?

Are these four being bullied by others so they don't want to go in the coop?

Is there other light in the run, say from a security light or street light, so they don't know it is getting dark?

Have you checked after dark for roost mites. Roost mites only come out after dark. Are they trying to avoid roost mites?

I don't know what is going on. Some history and information on your flock might help.

 

[Jakemedic]

I have 12 gals that have been together since they were a day old. The campers vary each night. Tonight’s campers were different than last nights. The door operates on a dusk to dawn sensor. I’m going down and will check for night time mites. The coop needs a clean out and the weather is reported to be warming up this weekend. My plan is to winterize (put up plastic on the run) and allow them some free range time too.

Thank you!