Strange Chickens

[Smart Red]

Like other pets -- and people -- chickens can be different from each other and flocks can be different from each other. The chickens I got in 2011 (my first in many years) would not Go Quietly Into the Night. . er. . the coop. I would be chasing the last of them around and around the coop trying to get everyone to bed before my bedtime. The chickens I got in 2012 are always in the coop before the sun reaches the tree tops over the western gully. I much prefer these early to coop-ers I have now.

This has been a change in their roosting behavior. That is usually associated with fear or distrust of the coop. It may be that an animal was in there when the behavior first started and the birds are still wary.

 

[journey11]

Maybe we should get them a nightlight

That's not a bad idea. The light inside will encourage them to come in to it when the outside is dark instead.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i found having the lights in the coop seems to attract mine to get their butts in the house.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

I don't let the chickens free range and their run is enclosed.... I don't think anything can get in ???? I always look around for anything out of the ordinary when I'm out there. I haven't seen anything.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Dew, on your post on BYC you said the only thing that has changed is the heat lamps. If the only thing that is changed is the heat lamps, the heat lamps are almost certainly the cause. Get rid of the heat lamps.

They may make you feel better, but the chickens don’t need them. Chickens survived and thrived for thousands of years in climates worse than yours before heat lamps were ever invented. All they need is a place with decent ventilation and being able to get out of a direct wind.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

None of our animals will go in without they're solar lights. If the solar lights were covering with snow all day and don't have any power, we have to herd them in. Otherwise when the lights are on they are all in their places and ready to be locked up before we even get out there to put them away. They don't like the dark.

 

[catjac1975]

I take my young birds, put them on the ramp into the coup and slowly push them up the ramp into the coup, one at a time. After a few nights they do it on their own. A light will definitely help. A light will also keep them laying through the long nights of winter. At least a bit.

 

[MontyJ]

The lamps have only been turned on twice, when temps were going to single digits. The chickens have always played out in the rain, but it concerns us more now that it's cold. I think the problem lies with when Dew was feeding them their evening snack. I think she was giving it to them too late in the evening. I suggested she do it earlier. Last night she did just that and the chickens went in at their normal (dusk) time. The evening snack ritual was just started as a way to give them a little boost against the cold.

 

[so lucky]

Oh, I hope the timing of snacks is the answer to the problem. Easy to solve. I give mine a snack when I let them out to free range around 2:00 pm, but usually not after that. At least the snow has melted enough that they can get out in the grass a little now. And my new pullets don't seem to mind the snow and rain as much as the old girls.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

I fed them their evening snack around 4:30 yesterday. When I went back out at about 5:30 they were all inside. I think the timing of their snack was a little too late.