Storms and chickens

[Jam211266]

We've had our chucks 2.5 years and 12 months and have never had a problem with them going in the Eglu at dusk to roost until last week when suddenly they decided to go up on their lookout shelf in the run and roost there instead. Every night we have to lift them down and physically put them in the Eglu and shut the door. They seem very reluctant to go in there unless it's to lay in the daytime. It's too cold for them to be outside all night and I'm worried about predators too. Has anyone got any ideas why they are doing this and what we can do about it please?

[Ursula123]

Could be red mite in the coop.

[sjp]

as said could be mites it could also be down to them moulting as long as they don't get wet at night they'll be OK outside temp wise. I'm having to leave the coop doors open for my mob at the moment due to a problem with my knee and the way I set my runs up stopping my access to the runs to close the doors so I've got a couple of girls that sleep out most nights through the last few nights it's just been the lone half bald cream legbar

[Jam211266]

Thank you for your responses. Don’t think it’s red mite as we disinfect the house weekly and treat the bedding and bars with powder. Plus we do the girls once a month too. And there’s no sign of moult. I think they’ve taken to spending time up on the perch in the day as a vantage point to see the rest of the garden, possibly because we’ve had a cat in the garden showing an interest in them. Then it gets dark and they can’t see to get down so they just stay there. My husband lifted them down at dusk the other night and let them out for a quick forage in the garden, then they went straight into the house. Last night we weren’t here to do that and they were back on the perch! We’ll have to see what happens today.

[Luvachicken]

Lots of people use a torch to encourage their chickens to go inside the house - you could try that.

[delphzzzz]

Jam - you're probably right about them just staying on their vantage point perch instead of bothering to go to bed. But I don't think you can 100% rule out red mite. Disinfectant doesn't necessarily get rid of them unless you blast every little crevice, and neither does powder on the bars and bedding. Have you tried investigating at night? During the night, when the chooks have been in bed a good while, rub around and under the bars with white paper and see if there are red streaks from squashed mites. Also, put your hand in the coop and leave it there for a while, red mites will detect your body heat and crawl on you!