Yet another 'chickens not sleeping in the coop' question...should I worry?

[OrahSmiles]

Hello, and thanks for clicking on my question
For my flock's particular situation (5 hens about a year old):
-We built a 4x4 5' tall coop over the Winter because their old coop was a cruddy hand-me-down that wasn't designed well and they couldn't roost in easily.
-The new coop is roomy, well ventilated, and we built a roosting ladder out of 1x4s. They never really got into using that roosting ladder, and I guessed it was because they didn't get to roost in the old coop.
-The coop is situated inside a sizeable run (~8x10) that has all sorts of branches for them to hang out on
-The hens have access to the entire backyard during the day, then come into the run at night. It used to be, that they would head into the coop to sleep as hoped/planned

About 4 weeks ago, a few of the hens decided to roost and sleep on the branches in the run instead of the coop. Of course, over time, the rest followed suit. I cleaned out the coop in case there was something they were avoiding in there, and we also added another window in case it was too dark for them to go inside. Still, they opted to sleep outside.

The weather is warming up, and the run is secure, so I'm not worried on those fronts.

My big question is, should I worry at all or make efforts to get them going back into the coop? Is there any more investigating I should be doing (like maybe they like the branches in the run better than the roosting ladder)? Or do I trust that as the weather turns cold again, they'll go back to coop sleeping?

Thank you in advance to the folks who know more than I do that might offer some guidance!!!!!!

 

[townchicks]

4x4 is a bit snug for 5 hens, but if they all get along well, that can work. It could be that the original defection was a hen getting jostled around on the roost. It could also be that your outside roost are higher than the inside, chickens like to be as high as possible. If the run is really secure, and they have shelter from the wind, they will be fine. They may not automatically go back to the coop in bad weather, you may need to do some transferring for a while to get them used to it again. You can also try removing or lowering the outside roosts. Pics of your ladder roost might help to identify any issues.

 

[OrahSmiles]

where they've been roosting (left front of the run), the run, the coop, the inside coop

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have a hen who has refused to sleep inside the coop for like 2 years... winter included! She can get into the coop if she wants to, and there is plenty of room for her; still, she decided to roost in the tree. I'm not worried about her, and I wouldn't be worried about your hens either. As long as they CAN get into the coop at night, it shouldn't be a problem. That's just my opinion though, go with what your gut tells you.

 

[OrahSmiles]

I have a hen who has refused to sleep inside the coop for like 2 years... winter included! She can get into the coop if she wants to, and there is plenty of room for her; still, she decided to roost in the tree. I'm not worried about her, and I wouldn't be worried about your hens either. As long as they CAN get into the coop at night, it shouldn't be a problem. That's just my opinion though, go with what your gut tells you.

Thank you for your insight, that puts my mind at ease

 

[OrahSmiles]

4x4 is a bit snug for 5 hens, but if they all get along well, that can work. It could be that the original defection was a hen getting jostled around on the roost. It could also be that your outside roost are higher than the inside, chickens like to be as high as possible. If the run is really secure, and they have shelter from the wind, they will be fine. They may not automatically go back to the coop in bad weather, you may need to do some transferring for a while to get them used to it again. You can also try removing or lowering the outside roosts. Pics of your ladder roost might help to identify any issues.

Thank you for the guidance and reassurance, townchicks! I'll attach a picture of the run, where they've been roosting, and their coop and ladder. I'm thinking about making a different roosting set up in the coop using the branches....

 

[DonyaQuick]

About 4 weeks ago, a few of the hens decided to roost and sleep on the branches in the run instead of the coop.

Are the branches in the run higher up than the roosts? Another thing to consider would be shape. The branches may be more comfortable for whatever reason. I don't see anything wrong with your in-coop roosts but chickens can be funny creatures.

Looks like the run is with chicken wire? If so, depending on your location, that may be not secure at all at night - it's a material that is good at keeping chickens in but not at keeping nocturnal predators out. Weasels or other mustelids would be a particular worry. Assuming the coop is more protected, I would say definitely get them into the coop at night and don't leave them out.

 

[OrahSmiles]

Are the branches in the run higher up than the roosts? Another thing to consider would be shape. The branches may be more comfortable for whatever reason. I don't see anything wrong with your in-coop roosts but chickens can be funny creatures.

Looks like the run is with chicken wire? If so, depending on your location, that may be not secure at all at night - it's a material that is good at keeping chickens in but not at keeping nocturnal predators out. Weasels or other mustelids would be a particular worry. Assuming the coop is more protected, I would say definitely get them into the coop at night and don't leave them out.

Thank you for your helpful insight Where they are roosting and the coop roost are about the same height. I used the 1x4s for the ladder because someone recommended it after doing an experiment with what their chickens preferred...but like you said, chickens will be chickens....I have a hunch it might partly be at least partly due to the shape, so I'll play around with that. I'd like to make sure they're comfy!
Fortunately, we don't have a weasel or mustelid issue where I live. Our biggest worry is raccoon....the chicken wire is dug a couple feet down into the ground to try and mitigate that. But I think you make a good point regardless! Thanks again!

 

[DonyaQuick]

Where they are roosting and the coop roost are about the same height.

That's probably the answer right there! Basically the same height and it's right there where they already are, so very convenient! LOL Mine have done the same thing at times in nice weather. They can be trained out of it for the most part.

Our biggest worry is raccoon....

Unfortunately racoons can reach right through chicken wire and also larger spaced welded wire, etc. The result is really quite awful if they get a hold of any part of a chicken. They can grab, so they will just pull part of the bird close enough to the edge and start eating it right there. So definitely get the chickens into the coop at dusk even if you have to pick them up and move them each night.

I've read some reports of raccoons also mangaging to peel apart the the gaps on chicken wire to make it bigger and fit through, but with perches that go up to the edge of the wire the much bigger risk there is them sleeping out there is being grabbed and having a leg, wing, or head pulled through.

 

[OrahSmiles]

That's probably the answer right there! Basically the same height and it's right there where they already are, so very convenient! LOL Mine have done the same thing at times in nice weather. They can be trained out of it for the most part.


Unfortunately racoons can reach right through chicken wire and also larger spaced welded wire, etc. The result is really quite awful if they get a hold of any part of a chicken. They can grab, so they will just pull part of the bird close enough to the edge and start eating it right there. So definitely get the chickens into the coop at dusk even if you have to pick them up and move them each night.

I've read some reports of raccoons also mangaging to peel apart the the gaps on chicken wire to make it bigger and fit through, but with perches that go up to the edge of the wire the much bigger risk there is them sleeping out there is being grabbed and having a leg, wing, or head pulled through.

Oh! That makes total sense...eek! Back to the coop the girls go!!