My weirdo chickens refuse to go to bed🙄

[BGcoop]

My chickens appear to be broken and refuse to go to bed on their own at night. At first it was just one then two but tonight I’m up to 5 that are just casually wandering around the yard even though the sun has been down well over an hour. Coop was cleaned today, so that isn’t the issue. They go in just fine when I herd them that direction eventually. They have a light in the coop to guide them in, that’s not their problem. They just don’t seem to see the need to put themselves to bed when it gets dark- what weirdos. Does anybody else have weirdos that don’t want to sleep?

 

[StinkyAcres]

That is unusual as chickens can't see well at all in the dark. Are you keeping an outside light on elsewhere?

 

[BGcoop]

That is unusual as chickens can't see well at all in the dark. Are you keeping an outside light on elsewhere?

There is a back porch light on tonight, but not every night and they still just chill in the yard even if it’s off they’re just weird

 

[StinkyAcres]

I've noticed my younger chickens stay out later than the older ones, but never past dark. When did they start doing this? How long have you tried herding them in? They really shouldn't be outside at night. Most predators come out in the evening.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Perhaps it's a space issue? How big is your coop and how much roost space for how many birds?

 

[Nym]

My pekin bantams always walk down to the tractor at dusk, even after they've been fed earlier on. One of the two araucana is a bit of a demon and will choose to hide on me. I let her go a few nites but, like your situation, I didn;t want her to be causing a rebellion lol so now I round her up.

 

[BGcoop]

Perhaps it's a space issue? How big is your coop and how much roost space for how many birds?

Currently 23 birds(due to butcher at least 9 this fall yet) coop is something like 8x16 ( I don’t know the exact measurements, but it is fully walk in with more than enough space-in fact once they are in they all chose to use the same roost bar even though there are several spots to choose from) and they free range all day long.

 

[aart]

Coop was cleaned today, so that isn’t the issue.

Or maybe it is?
I've found that when I totally change out the coop bedding they don't like to walk on it because it's 'different'.
Has this ever happened before?

 

[BGcoop]

Or maybe it is?
I've found that when I totally change out the coop bedding they don't like to walk on it because it's 'different'.
Has this ever happened before?

Nah, we clean it regularly so a clean coop isn’t “new” to them, plus they have been doing it for a while before the cleaning too. I think they just don’t like the shorter days and are rebelling against going to bed earlier

 

[tlcmurphy]

Is there something lurking in the coop?