nigeandnippy Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 lately i have noticed my chickens have started sleeping in their run outside not in the coop at night, will it be because it's cooler or something more worrying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Hello, There could be a few reasons for it: Are they new hens that aren't used to sleeping in that coop? Sometimes new hens 'forget' where they're meant to be sleeping and you might have to shut them in for a few nights so they remember where the bedroom is. Are they showing any other signs of illness or distress? It might be worth checking their coop for mites or lice? Is the coop overcrowded? It might also just be a preference: we had a hen who refused to sleep in the coop unless it was raining, and she'd always sleep out on the roosting bars in the run instead. Even if we shut her in to show her where the bedroom was. Just some initial thoughts. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Mine sleep outside on a perch in their run year round. They are bantams and instinctively want to roost high. The run is secure. The cube is just an expensive nest box! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 I have one who sleeps outside on her own - just because she wants to 🤷♀️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigeandnippy Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 4 hours ago, AndyRoo said: Hello, There could be a few reasons for it: Are they new hens that aren't used to sleeping in that coop? Sometimes new hens 'forget' where they're meant to be sleeping and you might have to shut them in for a few nights so they remember where the bedroom is. Are they showing any other signs of illness or distress? It might be worth checking their coop for mites or lice? Is the coop overcrowded? It might also just be a preference: we had a hen who refused to sleep in the coop unless it was raining, and she'd always sleep out on the roosting bars in the run instead. Even if we shut her in to show her where the bedroom was. Just some initial thoughts. Andy hi andy our hens are just over a year old but will try shut them in for a few nights see if that works the coop seems to be free from lice etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Maybe that's the chicken equivalent of throwing the duvet off? We had 3 L/S bantams in a classic and often had to encourage the littlie, Korma, inside when we went to close up the house - I think she would have stayed outside otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
