What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[heftyh]

My 2 light sussex bantam girls have taken to putting themselves to bed - on the roof of their coop!!! They would seem quite happy and content to stay there all night. When I go down to lock them up, I physically have to put them to bed. They have also stopped laying again but they are a temperamental breed I'm told and laying is very stop start anyway. My husband is convinced that mice have moved in but theres no evidence of them! Any ideas???

[zakjon-98]

Quite a lot of people have hens that prefer to sleep on top of their coop. It won't harm them as sussex are a hardy breed but if you don't want them to you could put something on top of the house. If their coop is inside a run where a fox cannot get to them I would not worry about it but if not I would not let them do it. Pure breeds are not as good layers as hybrids and will often stop laying for winter and to go broody. Hens also lay less and may stop laying all together as they get older so this could be a reason why they have stopped. If you think you have mice it may be best to set down some traps but I would not use poison as chickens will eat mice and this may harm them. Good luck

[KateH]

Hi there, have a check for Red Mite. This can lead to a change in routine on the roosting and laying front

[Chicken shack]

I have one ex-batt who roosts outside the This was a pain as I had Harvey our cockeral and I liked to shut the door to muffle his early morning crowing. I had to get in the run each evening climb over the perches and pop her in before I could shut the door. Then back out again. I have recently re-homed him and now leave the door open and leave them to it.

[Tweety]

Red mite is a more likely reason for the change in roosting habits.

[heftyh]

Thanks everyone for helpful advice. Just off to double check for mites...